Moreleta Spruit

About Moreleta Spruit

The Moreleta Spruit (spruit is a South African word for a small stream) is a tributary of the Hartbees Spruit that runs through the eastern Pretoria suburbs. The stream that flows all year round starts in the dolomite hills to the south of Pretoria and has many tributaries feeding it.

The name Moreleta comes from the Sotho name 'Moretla', meaning brandy bush or Grewia flava.

Moreleta is one of three rivers around which Pretoria is built. The other two are the Apies river, with its starting point at Fountains Valley, and Walker Spruit that runs from Waterkloof koppies through the eastern suburbs of the city.

The Moreleta Spruit is significant because it flows through two nature reserves – the Moreleta Nature Reserve and the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve - running between the two along a green belt through Garsfontein and then north until seamlessly joining the Hartbees Spruit and the Roodeplaat Dam, into which it drains.

Of the two nature reserves Faerie Glen is considered the 'jewel of the Moreleta River system' - the largest single area of peaceful, uninterrupted natural habitat with three hiking trails that, when combined, give a wonderful overview of the spruit and the surrounding area.

The other way of exploring the spruit is to head to the Moreleta Kloof where there are a further three short trails. Combining these gets you a good 9 km walk that includes the rocky ridges, wetlands and grasslands of the reserve. The bird life here is spectacular.

The state of the Moreleta Spruit has been left largely to Friends' Groups who take it upon themselves to help clear invasive alien vegetation and debris along its banks. These groups include Moreleta Kloof, Serene Valley, Struben Dam, Weavers Nest, Faerie Glen Nature Reserve, EcoGlen, Brookside Meander, Skuilkrans and Brookside Meander.

These interest groups of the Moreleta Spruit have done incredibly valuable work on a voluntary basis to support this green lung.

The Spruit's future management includes a plan by the Gauteng Region to maintain the spruit as part of its Adopt-a River Project. Part of the problem is that the river flows through dense urban areas (both privileged and disadvantaged communities) and the industrial area of Waltloo.