Local ward councillor Edwina Mahne is asking the public to be respectful of the West Rand’s kloofs and ridges during the festive season.
“There is a dedicated group of community volunteers who unselfishly donate their skills and time to conserve the fauna and flora on the ridges and kloofs North of Krugersdorp,” she said in a statement to the News.
She said these ridges and kloofs form part of a highly sensitive ecological area that has been preserved, conserved and protected.
The area in question stretches from Kingskloof to Proteadal, the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, the Kenmare Kloof, Witpoortjie Kloof and Kloof-en-Dal to Little Falls.
“Proteadal is the last viable habitat for the critically endangered Albertina Sisulu orchid. The wider ridge system also has a population of endangered Mountain Reedbuck and is the feeding ground of the iconic Black Eagle,” she explained.
She mentioned some of the things that pose a threat to these natural habitats.
• Camp Fires
• Sewerage leaks into the water systems which contaminate the Muldersdrift’s Loop, the source of the Crocodile River and it also contaminates the river in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden and the wetlands below the Muldersdrift’s Loop
• Removal of rocks (rocks provide a protective micro habitat for sensitive plant species)
• Dirt bikers riding in highly sensitive areas have also ridden over animals
• 4×4 vehicles driving on the ridge within the buffer zone
• Illegal felling of Protea trees (once they are cut they will not grow again)
• Illegal dumping of building material in highly sensitive areas
• Snares trapping animals, such as hares and buck (a pregnant buck of an endangered specie was recently killed and its foetus removed)
• Removal of indigenous plants for medicinal reasons
• Littering
• Invasive plant species
• Invasive animal species, such as domestic rabbits and cats have been released into the ecologically sensitive areas (domestic rabbits and cats should be spayed and neutered)
“The community is requested to refrain from engaging in any of the above activities as it will bring about the destruction of this highly sensitive habitat which all of the volunteers are attempting to conserve. Residents living near or adjacent to these ridges and kloofs are encouraged to report any suspicious activities. Be our eyes and ears!”
The following contact numbers can be used in case a resident needs to report an incident or a concern or a sewerage leak that endangers the natural environment of the Northern ridges and kloof areas known as the Greater Roodekrans Ridge system:
Roodekrans Neighbourhood Watch Ops Room (RNW) 081 043 9488
Hanno Moller for Kenmare Kloof and Witpoortjie Kloof 076 475 1249
CPF Sector 7 073 150 8867
CPF Sector 8 082 443 3442 / 083 255 3964.
