March was a month of transition, resilience and coordinated effort across the Riverhorse Valley precinct. From welcoming a new service provider to managing the impact of heavy rainfall, our cleaning, greening and maintenance teams continued to deliver consistent results.
100mm Rain: River Clean-up
A significant 100mm rainfall event over one weekend resulted in the uMhlangane River overflowing, causing debris and sand to wash onto key routes, including Prince Umhlangane Road. The landslide in the area further impacted accessibility. In response:
- Servest deployed a Bobcat to assist with clearing operations
- eThekwini Municipality provided a grader to support road clean-up
- All precinct teams worked collaboratively to restore affected areas
Seamless Service Provider Transition
March marked an important transition in our environmental management services. Following the Cleaning Greening and Maintenance RFP process, we welcomed Idube Landscapes as the new alien invasive control service provider.
A key highlight of this transition was the fact that all existing staff were retained, ensuring no job losses. The teams are already familiar with the precinct, allowing for a seamless handover. New high-visibility uniforms, co-branded with the precinct logo, have been introduced to enhance safety while working along riverbanks and boundary areas.
Boundary Cuts, Ongoing Maintenance
Despite the disruption caused by the rains, greening and maintenance teams remained on schedule with key tasks, including full boundary cuts completed by the alien invasive control team, ongoing grass cutting, verge maintenance and hedge trimming across the precinct and replanting of gardens at the Hippo Park Avenue entrance feature. An impressive total of 2,784 bags of litter were collected during this period.
Safety and Security
Precinct safety and security remained a priority. For most of March, no security incidents were reported in public open spaces.
As we move towards the next season, teams will continue prioritising riverbank clean-ups, landscaping improvements, and routine maintenance. The precinct remains committed to providing a safe, clean, and professional business environment for all members and stakeholders.
