Groenkloof nature reserve to remain open to the public

The Groenkloof nature reserve will remain open following the confusion between the Groenkloof nature reserve and the Groenkloof national park.

Groenkloof national park is the portion of land on the ridge between Muckleneuk and Groenkloof which is the headquarters of South African National Parks board (SANParks). Occupied by buildings and open only to staff, the land does not meet the requirements to be considered a national park.

In a response to the DA’s submitted parliamentary questions, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Environmental Affairs, Barbara Creecy, gave the assurance that the reserve will not be rezoned and developed into a residential area.

“Creecy confirmed that no such plans were in place and that the reserve will not be used for rezoning or development for residential areas,” said DA member of parliament’s portfolio committee for the environment, fisheries and forestry, Annerie Weber.

“The focus will be exclusively on Portion 90, which is the 6,8 hectares on the ridge between Muckleneuk and Groenkloof, opposite the Telkom tower, and it is solely for the use of Sanparks alone.”

The clarification stems from the local outrage expressed in October when it was mistakenly announced that a third party would be developing private property on the land.

Residents have since been assured that the withdrawal is only in reference to the Groenkloof’s status as a national park and not the reserve.

“The DA understands that the Groenkloof national park does not fulfil the requirements to be a national park, and accepts the explanation from the minister,” Weber continued.

According to SANParks, the criteria to be considered a national park takes into account the following factors:

– contributing to the national biodiversity estate in any meaningful way
– possess a cultural heritage asset of national and international value
– possess a tourism product or activity, and
– protect a landscape feature.

“The three major nature reserves in the precinct are Groenkloof nature/game reserve, Klapperkop nature/game reserve and the Voortrekker monument reserve. All of these are still open to the public,” Weber concluded.

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