Signs designed to raise awareness and warn against actions disturbing biodiversity in the Morninghill Koppie area have been stolen on several occasions.

This was according to City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini following a request for signs on the koppie, situated behind Gillooly’s Farm and the Jukskei River system in Bedfordview.

The request for signage has been a repeated appeal made by Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys to the city since October 2025.

Humphreys highlighted that there were worshippers on the mountain who were contravening by-laws through repeated noise disturbance (screaming, banging of instruments), littering, illegal dumping, ritual slaughter and making fires.

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On August 12, Humphreys reported that the mountain had been ablaze over the previous weekend.

“Our Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) Fire Fighters are unable to get to the top of the mountain where the fires, it would seem, are deliberately being set. Our DEMS Fire Fighters do their best to protect the residents as the fire burns closer to residential dwellings.

“On the Senderwood side of the mountain, it is virtually impossible for the firefighters to access the area behind the houses where the fires blaze extremely close to residential properties. We simply have to find mitigation to manage this,” said Humphreys.
On August 26, Humphreys reported another fire on the koppie, reigniting her appeal for signage setting out the City’s non-compliance rules regarding the protection of the suburb’s biodiverse protected area and respecting the rights of residents as follows:
• Protected biodiverse area
• No fires
• No extreme noise, including shouting, screaming and banging
• No illegal structures
• No littering
• No damage to flora
• No killing of animals and birds
• No illegal parking
• Signage to be in at least three languages, including English, isiZulu and Sesotho.

Terrain and fire risks

Dlamini said the signage can be erected in the next financial year, but alternative materials will need to be utilised to discourage theft and vandalism.

“Assessments have been carried out at the koppie regarding the biodiversity. Alien invasive vegetation has been identified, and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment requested to clear the identified aliens as soon as they finalise their procurement process for a contractor.”

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Humphreys said while cognisance is taken of the rights of all people to practise their religions and cultures, this can be done while respecting the rights of affected residents, ratepayers, and the environment. In response, Dlamini said the City supports everyone practising their religious beliefs and culture.

“However, these need to be in line with national legislation that protects and promotes biodiversity. Contraventions need to be reported so that the competent authorities can take the necessary steps and corrective measures against perpetrators,” he added.

DEMS district manager for media liaison William Ntladi said that between January and October 2026, DEMS attended to four grass fires alongside the Morninghill mountainside. He said two were on the mountain itself, occurring on June 16 and July 25, while two occurred near the river and on other open tracts within the residential area on August 10 and September 14.

“One must take into consideration that some fires might not have been reported and were self-extinguished in the incipient phase before even growing bigger,” Ntladi explained. He added that weather conditions are always the attributing factors in either blowing and spreading the fire quicker out of proportion or bringing the fire to the benefit of firefighters to extinguish it easily. The earlier fire services are activated, the better for the fire to be extinguished.

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Fighting mountain blazes

The district manager highlighted that veld fires are usually challenging in terms of topography versus the sizes of fire engines.
“Even on a flat terrain, some heavy fire engines are not designed for off-road driving.

“On mountainous or hills, smaller 4×4 fire engines can drive to a certain height and level; therefore, the better mechanism to extinguish mountain veld fires is the use of human resources with grass beaters.”

He further said one other contributing factor towards mountain veld fires is the weather conditions. With strong winds blowing, it is always too difficult to control veld fires, Ntladi pointed out.

Uneven and rocky terrain can also result in injuries to firefighters.

He underlined, “Depending on the size of the fire and the risk thereof, helicopter usage is always one of the best equipment to use in bringing mountain veld fires under control.”

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Sharing advice with residents living near the mountain regarding fire prevention, reporting and immediate safety precautions, DEMS said that consultation with the Bedfordview Fire Department, Public Information, Education and Relations subsection, can highlight knowledge and understanding of fire prevention.

He said the training can be conducted at the fire station or convenient areas of their choice.

In terms of firebreaks, Ntladi quoted section 12 of the National Veld and Forest Act 101 of 1998, which states thus: “Every landowner on whose land a veldfire may start or burn, or from whose land it may spread, has a strict legal duty to prepare and maintain a firebreak on their side of the boundary.”

He added that the law requires landowners to provide at least 14 days’ written notice to neighbouring landowners before burning a boundary firebreak so that operations can be safely co-ordinated.