South Africa News

Invasive fish become lockdown food in South Africa

The Groenvlei lake, in South Africa, is full of gleaming carps.

The fish were introduced in the 1800s and have proliferated so much that they threaten the lake’s ecosystem.

So park managers like Thulani Ndlovu, an employee at CapeNature, are trying to curb numbers of the invasive species.

“We eradicate common carp, for the benefit of biodiversity here in Groenvlei, we donate it to our local communities.”

The carps used to be turned into fertilizer. Now the fish help feeding the locals in Sedgefield, the closest town that heavily relies on tourism. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the industry has collapsed overnight.

“The fish is a relief,” Louis Hendricks, a Smutsville resident, explained .

“It is difficult with the lockdown for the children to get food, and money is scarce, so what can we do, but we are thankful for the fish.”

The Groenvlei carps feed around 250 people a day. Mario Ferreira works with Gift of The Givers, a charity that organises distribution.

“The fish itself, needless to say it is all good, very good for human consumption, the locals actually love it,” Ferreira said.

From an environmental endeavour, the eradication of the Groenvlei carps has become a much-needed social project.

The South African lockdown is now in its fifth month. The country has the highest numbers of coronavirus cases on the continent.

 

Source: africannews.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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