KLOOF property owners and residents are invited to “share the vision and join the journey” of the majestic south Kloof escarpment and get involved in establishing the Greater Ingwe Escarpment Reserve.

Cradled between the M13 Fields Hill and the N3 toll plaza, the escarpment is visible to all travellers on their way westward out of Durban, through Westville and Pinetown.

The information-sharing consultation will be held at the Kloof Country Club on Wednesday, October 8, at 17:30.

Also read: Kloof Conservancy’s M13 project keeps the verges clean

The Ingwe Joint Steering Committee is inviting residents and property owners of Jerome and Edgecliff Drives, the St Marys area, Bellevue, Robertson Road, Parklane, Peace Road and Eagles Crest, the Maytime area – including Haygarth, Abrey, Lyngarth, Victory, Usolo, Quilhall and all other roads of the Special Rating Area.

On the day, vice-chairperson of the Kloof Conservancy, Steve Hobbs, said the journey toward, and the details of the Proclamation Process will be presented with the vision of establishing a fully-fledged nature reserve as the highest possible level of protection.
Hobbs highlighted that this process has and continues to be a dynamic community-driven partnership, together with the Kloof Conservancy and the eThekwini Municipality.

“This wonderful gateway to the interior has hosted thousands of travellers over the ages – through to Bantu tribes, the Voortrekkers, General Buller pulling his naval guns, the thousands of Comrades Marathon runners, to the daily commuter and commercial travellers.”

Speaking to the Highway Mail, Hobbs said in December 2024, several pottery shards from the middle iron age [750 AD] were found on the central escarpment, on the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands, adding another intriguing insight to this magnificent escarpment.

The committee said this magnificent, pristine escarpment includes what is believed to be the best example of the extremely valuable KZN Sourveld Sandstone Grasslands in eThekwini and KZN.

“It is abundantly rich in flora and fauna.”

The escarpment is also home to the Umbilo River Headwater with several tributaries in the Kloof Country Club, Glenholm and Tanglewood areas.

The pristine swamp forest in Upper Glenholm, its majestic waterfall into the Glenholm gorge, and the riverine forest areas, are all host to incredible biodiversity.

“The rare Kloof Frog can be found in all of these areas in the Umbilo headwater.”

According to the conservancy committee, the journey to have this area integrated into a protected reserve started in 2023.

“The vision for the project was endorsed at an ‘All Stakeholders’ imbizo in November 2023.”

They added that the event is open to the public, beyond the designated areas.

A consultation is planned that will be more accessible to the communities of Motala Heights.

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