The Msunduzi municipality is partnering with the Duzi Msunduzi Conservation Trust (Duct) to monitor the health of the city’s rivers.

Municipal manager Mxolisi Nkosi said they decided to partner with Duct because it had the capacity to monitor sewage leaks along rivers and prevent river pollution.

The agreement could last between two or three years, he said.

“The organisation will help to monitor our sewer lines that could leak into the rivers. The council has given the permission for the go-ahead of the partnership.”

Nkosi said their employees can monitor the sewer lines in the residential areas. When these leak, people complain and they are repaired.

“Some of our sewer lines are deep in the forest; when they overflow we do not see this and they flow into the rivers. Duct can help us monitor this situation,” Nkosi said. He added the municipality will make an investment in the organisation. “Duct is a non-profit organisation and therefore we have to meet them halfway.”

Dave Still, chairperson of Duct, said they were still negotiating the partnership and would only be able to comment on it once it has been finalised.