This paper describes the South African Working for Water (WfW) alien clearing programme. The approach taken is to outline the nature and size of the problem of invasive alien plants in South Africa as well as some of the impacts and costs incurred as a result of alien plant invasions. The paper then focuses on the strategies that are currently in place to deal with the problem. The value and extent of partnerships in the WfW programme are highlighted and lastly, gaps in the programme framework are shown as well as possible means of overcoming the programme's currently most pressing shortcomings.