APPROXIMATELY 150 Kloof residents and property owners crammed into the Kloof Country Club venue recently, for an update on the strategic and flagship initiative to proclaim a protected conservation reserve on the Kloof south escarpment.

The inaugural All Stakeholders Vision Imbizo took place in November 2023.

The project is a community-driven private-public partnership between the Kloof Conservancy and the eThekwini municipality.

Greg Mullins, the current Convenor of the Joint Steering Committee and Specialist Ecologist in the Biodiversity Management department of eThekwini, outlined the unique and strategic importance of the threatened KZN sourveld sandstone grasslands. These offer extraordinary rich and valuable biodiversity. He also outlined the Proclamation process that is underway, and where this will be gazetted and protected at a provincial level. It is anticipated that the process will be completed by the end of 2026.

Also read: Aweh! Find out what’s happening in Durbs

Earlier in the presentation, Kloof resident of 40 years, vice-chairperson of the Kloof Conservancy and project leader of the Escarpment project, Steve Hobbs, outlined the mission and vision for the project.

His presentation was entitled “Through the Ages – and for the Ages”. This was inspired by the discovery of pottery shards by local residents and conservationists Russell Scott and Bruce Ross on the grasslands in December 2024. These have been professionally dated to the middle iron age and 750AD-900AD by local archeologist Len van Schalkwyk.

Hobbs noted that there is scientific archeological evidence of 29 layers of human habitation over an 80 000-year period in this area of the upper highway.

“Now, in 2025, this 6km and 120 hectares of escarpment is totally ‘locked in and isolated’ by the development of the last 100 years. It is a vulnerable and threatened area.”

At the presentation, local resident and environmental enthusiast Otto Hirzel talked the audience through the journey of the Nkonka Trust area, which is on the far south of the Greater Ingwe Escarpment, above Mahogany Ridge, and at the end of Haygarth Road in Kloof. He emphasised the Trail system that is available to aspirant walkers and hikers.

The Kloof Conservancy is offering guided walks with Hirzel and Brad Hean on Sunday, November 16, at 08:00.

Also read: What is sub-soil drainage? 

On the evening, the way forward and key tasks were also presented. These related to the Proclamation process, stepping up the alien clearing process of the Glenholm gorge and the Edgecliff area. The finalisation and linking up of Trails across the 6km escarpment should be complete within six months. There are currently trails at Nkonka, Upper Glenholm and the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands. Integrated signage and information boards are also an important task.

Chris Harburn, chairperson of the Nkonka Trust, passed the vote of thanks and again highlighted the extent of the work done so far to reach this point. He applauded the City, the Kloof Conservancy and the passionate local residents who have been driving the process.


The public feedback

Julia Nicholson, a Kloof resident of 45 years, and the current vice-chairperson of the Kloof and Highway SPCA, said: “Wow! So encouraging and really exciting times ahead for our upper Highway community … the rescuing and preservation of this beautiful wild area is a tremendously important project.”

Nikki Phillips, owner of Grass Chopper garden services and neighbor to the Escarpment, congratulated everyone involved on a fantastic presentation, saying this project has come a long way.

“A spectacular presentation,” said Gavin Avrey a Maytime area resident and local businessman.

“Most informative and very interesting. We applaud all those dedicating so much time and energy to this incredibly important project,” said Kloof long-standing residents Sue and Richard Verbaan.

“What a great event. This certainly makes its mark on the future – with all the plans we were shown,” said resident Pam Pretorious.

“Residents will now be aware of how beautiful and important these escarpment grasslands are. It is absolutely essential that they are protected for future generations. We will definitely need a bigger venue for the next meeting!” said Caryl Walker, conservationist and owner of Tanglewood Farm.

For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Click to subscribe to our newsletter here