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Home , Milnerton Racecourse, Table Bay Nature Reserve, Two Oceans Aquarium

TRANSPORT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

Koos Retief Biodiversity Area Manager: T: 021 444 0315 E: [email protected]

T A B L E B A Y N A T U R E R E S E R V E

QUARTERLY REPORT: JULY – SEPTEMBER 2018

CONTENTS Pg.

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 2

2 HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES ...... 2

3 CONSERVATION PLANNING ...... 3

4 FLORA ...... 4

5 FAUNA ...... 7

6 SOIL ...... 10

7 WATER ...... 10

8 FIRE ...... 11

9 PEOPLE, TOURISM & EDUCATION ...... 11

10 STAFF ...... 14

11 LAW ENFORCEMENT ...... 17

12 INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT ...... 19

APPENDIX A: MAP OF RESERVE ...... 20

APPENDIX B: PRESS ARTICLES ...... 21

The ’s Nature Reserves webpage can be accessed by clicking this link.

City of Cape Town | Error! No text of specified style in document. 1

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 The Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) was reformed after completing three years of service. The new PAAC now consists of 19 new members.

 The annual reserve site visit of Biodiversity Branch Manager, Julia Wood, inspected various new pieces of land that are being incorporated into the Nature Reserve, including at the Zoarvlei Section, the Fynbos Corridor, and the Section.

 The restoration of the Critically Endangered sand fynbos in the Milnerton Racecourse is continuing with the planting of 1,771 more indigenous fynbos plants. A research project is being undertaken by Masters student, Landi Retief, to assess the restoration success.

 Cape water net algae (Hydrodictyon africanum) were found in wetlands at Milnerton Racecourse. The Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) assisted in plant search-and-rescue operations in development sites bordering the Nature Reserve in Parklands and Rivergate. Invasive alien vegetation was cleared in various locations in the Nature Reserve.

 A water bird census was conducted on 20/07/2018. The water birds numbered a total of 1,618 birds comprising of 40 different species. Various other fauna observations were also recorded. Rainfall recorded in the Table Bay Nature Reserve resulting in pans and seasonal wetlands remaining wet.

 Two Spring Walks were hosted in the at the Milnerton Racecourse Section.

 The reserve’s meeting facilities benefited 373 people over 16 meeting events. Environmental Education benefited 234 people and 1,146 visitors generated R25,014 income.

 Assistant Conservation Officer, Trevor Rieb, retired at the end of September. The selection of a new candidate has been concluded and the new person is expected to start working on 01/11/2018.

 Contract Reserve Supervisor, Kyran Wright, resigned since he obtained a permanent reserve supervisor position at the Zandvlei Estuary. Hester Pentz was successful in applying for his vacancy.

 Intern Reserve Supervisor, Waseem Parker, resigned since he obtained an invasive Species project manager contract position at the Westlake Conservation Centre. An NQF2 learner and two Marine Science students also joined the Nature Reserve.

 Two joint operations were conducted with the Law Enforcement Department and several illegal structures and temporary overnight camping sites were removed from the Nature Reserve.

2 HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES

2.1 HIGHLIGHT: The Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) for Table Bay Nature Reserve was reformed after completing three years of service on 3/05/2018. In terms of the Constitution of the PAACs all existing members had to apply to renew their membership, and prospective new members could also apply. A panel reviewed all applications and 19 groups were approved as members of the new PAAC.

Residents are encouraged to ensure that their interests are represented on the advisory committee by a group of their choice (see point 3.1 below).

2.2 CHALLENGE: Illegal dumping in the Zoarvlei Section is destroying the natural habit and costing the municipality millions every year to clean up. Nature Reserve staff also spend much of their time removing this dumping, which could have been spent on more beneficial conservation activities.

The public are encouraged to help protect the Nature Reserve by reporting cases of illegal dumping. Residents are advised to ensure that all waste is disposed of legally by the means provided by the municipality. It is illegal to dump waste in public spaces.

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3 CONSERVATION PLANNING

3.1 The Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) for Table Bay Nature Reserve completed three years of service on 3/05/2018. In terms of the Constitution of the PAACs, the committees must reform after every three years. All existing members had to apply to renew their membership, and prospective new members could also apply. Advertisements were placed in local and regional newspapers from 14-18/05/2018. The Area Manager sent the advertisement to all existing members of the PAAC as well as to all other listed stakeholders relevant to the Table Bay Nature Reserve. The closing date for applications was 14/06/2018, and a panel reviewed all applications. A late application was received from Milnerton Central Residents’ Association. The following groups were approved as members of the new PAAC:

 Al Mare Home Owners Association  Brigitte Melly (specialist)  Cape Bird Club  Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve  CapeNature  WC: Department of Environmental Affairs & Development Planning  Friends of BCA  Friends of Rietvlei  Milnerton Aquatic Club  Milnerton Canoe Club  Milnerton Ridge Ratepayers Association  Paardeneiland City Improvement District  SANCCOB  Sunset Beach Home Owners Association  Sunset Villages Home Owners Association  Ratepayers Association  Renosterveld Conservancy  West Coast Way  Woodbridge Island Body Corporate

3.2 The annual reserve site visit of Biodiversity Branch Manager, Julia Wood, took place on 21/08/2018. Some of the current projects being implemented were inspected in the field, including the following:  Reservation of land adjacent to Brooklyn Chest Hospital for incorporation into the Nature Reserve;  Addition of the Sunningdale Ephemeral Pan into the Fynbos Corridor;  Replacement of the Milnerton Racecourse boardwalk and information signage; and  The prescribed ecological burn and fynbos restoration in a new portion of land at Milnerton Racecourse Section.

3.3 The Biodiversity Branch Manager’s Annual Report was presented to various subcouncils by Area Manager, Koos Retief, at the following subcouncil meetings:  Subcouncil 16 on 17/09/2018,  Subcouncil 15 on 19/09/2018, and  Subcouncil 03 on 20/09/2018.

Figure 1. View of from the Coastal Section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve (photo Landi Retief).

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4 FLORA

4.1 The algae Hydrodictyon africanum (Cape water net) was found in the temporary wetlands at Milnerton Racecourse on 10/09/2018 (Figure 2 right). The water net starts as a very small net of single cells that sticks together under the water. As the net grows the individual cells become bigger until they reach the size of grapes, at which point they start to break off and float freely in the water. Unlike fruits, which consist of thousands of cells, these water net cells are each an individual alga cell, and they contain only water. Figure 2. Cape water net cells. 4.2 The Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW) assisted in plant search-and-rescue operations in the development sites bordering the Nature Reserve at Parklands and Rivergate. The rescued plants were replanted in selected locations in the Fynbos Corridor and the Diep River Section.

4.3 Invasive vegetation was cleared at the following locations in the Nature Reserve (Figures 3-6):  Milnerton Racecourse Section, including annual weeds such as Vicia, Ischium and wild mustard, as well as seedlings of woody alien species including Port Jackson and Rooikrans.  Zoarvlei Section, including a range of annuals weeds, such as lupins, Vicia, Malva arborea, Echium, and wild mustard. Other plants that were removed included a Palm tree, Red sesbania (Sesbania punicea), and Eucalyptus trees.  Diep River Section, including Prickly pear (Opuntia species), Castor Oil (Ricinus communis) and Port Jackson.  Rietvlei Section, including various annual weeds as well as Port Jacksons and Rooikrans.

Figure 3. Cutting a palm tree to pieces. Figure 4. Removing the palm tree with a truck.

Figure 5. Hand-pulling Lupin weeds. Figure 6. Removal of various alien plants.

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4.4 The restoration of the Critically Endangered Cape Flats sand fynbos in a portion of the Milnerton Racecourse, which was previously used for horse training, is progressing. This land is being restored to incorporate it into the Nature Reserve.

Three raptor bird perches were placed in the The fynbos restoration research of Masters student, restoration area to encourage raptor birds to utilise Landi Retief, continued with pollination observations. this area and to control rodent populations that Landi placed netted bags over a variety of flowering might otherwise destroy the newly planted fynbos plant species to exclude pollination at certain times plants (Figure 7 below). in order to distinguish which plants are pollinated by which pollinators at various times in their A started to use the perches. This is development (Figure 8 below). beneficial to the restoration of the area as this raptor also helps to prevent other birds such as Guineafowl This data is being compared to pollination from digging out the young plants. observation on flowers that were left uncovered.

Figure 7. Jackal buzzard with a bird perch in the background. Figure 8. Netted bags covering certain flowers.

Further planting of 1,771 indigenous fynbos plants took place. These plants were propagated at the Westlake Restoration Nursery from seeds and cuttings collected in the Nature Reserve (Figures 9-10 below). 336 plants were planted in the research plots of Masters student Landi Retief. 200 more plants were planted in the flattened berm to stabilise the soil, and 1,235 plants were planted in the rest of the restoration area that was previously burned on 12/04/2018. Staff and students from Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, Nature Reserve and Table Bay Nature Reserve assisted with the planting work. Some of the plants had to be watered initially, but the watering was stopped once the winter rains started.

Figure 9. Various fynbos plants ready for planting. Figure 10. Some of the staff that did the planting.

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4.5 Some notable flora species that were observed in the Nature Reserve during this quarter include:

Figure 11. Moraea gawleri. Figure 12. Moraea flaccida. Figure 13. Lachenalia pallida. Figure 14. Gladiolus carinatus.

Figure 15. Sparaxis bulbifera. Figure 16. Arctotheca calendula. Figure 17. Ferraria crispa.

Figure 18. Moraea fugax. Figure 19. Babiana nana. Figure 20. Spiloxene paniculata. Figure 21. Oxalis obtusa.

Figure 22. Romulea tabularis. Figure 23. Romulea rosea. Figure 24. Watsonia meriana. Figure 25. Romulea hirsuta.

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5 FAUNA

5.1 A water bird census was conducted on 20/07/2018. The census was done by the Nature Reserve staff, covering 11 survey sections. The water birds numbered a total of 1,618 birds comprising of 40 species (see Figures 26-28 for details).

19 species with single-figure counts (totalling 61 birds) accounted for 3,8% of the water bird census, 61 including: one Hottentot teal, African (Ethiopian) snipe, Water thicknee and Malachite kingfisher each, two Great crested , African , Purple , , Kittlitz's plover, and Unidentified ducks each, three Bank , four 473 Glossy ibis, Hadeda ibis, and hybrid each, five , six Blackheaded heron, African black oystercatcher, and Pied kingfisher each, and seven Blackwinged stilt. 16 species with double-figure counts (totalling 473 birds) accounted for 29,2% of the water bird census, 1084 including: 10 Spurwinged goose, 11 Whitebreasted cormorant, 13 White , 13 , 13 Cape teal, 15 Little egret, 19 , 21 Common moorhen, 22 Redbilled teal, 26 , 27 , 34 Southern pochard, 43 Sacred ibis, 62 Blacksmith lapwing, 71 Cape shoveller, and 73 Greater . 19 species with single-figure counts 5 species with triple-figure counts (totalling 1,084 16 species with double-figure counts birds) accounted for 67,0% of the water bird census, including: 132 Yellowbilled duck, 170 Redknobbed 5 species with triple-figure counts coot, 191 Egyptian goose, 211 Kelp gull, and 380 Hartlaub's gull. Figure 26. Relative contribution of low, medium and high counts.

Other, 24 Ibis & Cormorant spoonbill, s, 40 Plover & 56 Zoarvlei waders, 98 , South, 59 egrets and Zoarvlei Potsdam darter, 40 Diep River, North, 28 WWTW, 143 153

North Vlei, South 119 Vlei, 64

Lagoon Gulls & Ducks & South, 264 Terns, 591 Geese, 476 Central Pan, 372 Lagoon North, 225 Coots & Dolphin Moorhens, Beach, 100 191 Flamingoe Milnerton , 29 Channel, 91 s, 73

Figure 27. Relative contribution from each survey section. Figure 28. Relative contribution from the various bird groups.

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5.2 Various fauna observations were recorded by staff during this quarter, including Cape river crab (Potamonautes perlatus), rain spiders (Palystes superciliosus), striped field mice (Rhabdomys pumilio), Cape gray mangoose (Galerella pulverulenta), (Pseudaspis cana), marsh terrapin (Pelomedusa subrufa), Cape grysbok (Raphicerus melanotis), Cape dwarf (Bradypodion pumilum), water (Atilax paludinosus) spoor and scat, jackal buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus) prey pellets, rhombic skaapsteker (Psammophylax rhombeatus), and clicking stream frogs (Strongylopus grayii). See some images belows in Figures 29-34.

Figure 29. A Cape river crab. Figure 30. A march terrapin.

Figure 31. . Figure 32. Blacksmith lapwing eggs.

Figure 33. Clicking stream frog tadpole. Figure 34. A mole snake.

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5.3 Wildlife photographers, Jan and Frieda Prinsloo, also submitted photographs of interesting sightings recorded during this quarter, including:  A Cape (or orange-throated) longclaw (Macronyx capensis) eating a clicking stream frog (Figure 35 right),  A very rare sighting of a White-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus),  A flock of Greater (Phoenicopterus roseus) containing adult and juvenile birds, and  A flock of Black-necked grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) (Figures 36-38 below). Figure 35. Cape longclaw.

Figure 36. A White-backed duck (photo Jan & Frieda Prinsloo).

Figure 37. Greater flamingos (photo Jan & Frieda Prinsloo).

Figure 38. Black-necked grebes (photo Jan & Frieda Prinsloo).

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6 SOIL

Nothing to report.

7 WATER

7.1 Rainfall recorded in the Table Bay Nature Reserve was around average. The total rainfall during this quarter was 175.7 mm at Rietvlei and 208.6 mm at Milnerton Racecourse. As a result the pans and most of the seasonal wetlands remained wet. Figure 39 below indicates the monthly rainfall records of Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average rainfall pattern. Figure 40 below indicates the accumulation curves for Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse, plotted over the average rainfall accumulation curve. This year’s rainfall accumulation to date has already matched the average annual accumulation for a whole year.

140

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20

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Rietvlei Racecourse

Figure 39. Monthly rainfall records of Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average rainfall pattern.

500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Rietvlei Racecourse

Figure 40. Rainfall accumulation curves of Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average accumulation curve.

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8 FIRE

Nothing to report.

9 PEOPLE, TOURISM & EDUCATION

9.1 Stakeholder Engagement

Two Spring Walks were hosted by Hester Pentz in the Critically Endangered Cape Flats sand fynbos at the Milnerton Racecourse Section on 22-23/09/2018. The walks were attended by five people at each walk. The group was limited to where they could walk due to large amounts of standing water in the seasonal wetlands. The participants also experienced the effect of the midges and horseflies first hand, since any exposed body parts attracted these insects. Figure 41. Hester Pentz with a group in Milnerton Racecourse. Become a Citizen Scientist with iNaturalist. The identification of species is sometimes very hard, but a helpful tool to get to know our biodiversity is iNaturalist (www.inaturalist.org/). iNaturalist is a web-based social network of citizen scientists, naturalists and biologists who share and map observations of biodiversity on a global scale. Anyone can share photographs of unidentified fauna and flora with specialists who may be able to identify them. This is especially an exciting tool in Spring time when many of the bulbs are blooming. iNaturalist is currently collating data for Cape Town’s various nature reserves. To contribute to the data for the Table Bay Nature Reserve, follow this link at https://www.inaturalist.org/places/table-bay-nature-reserve- rietvlei (checklists) or this link for observations. Mobile applications are available for smart phones.

9.1.1 Internal Meetings

Table Bay Nature Reserve staff attended no less than 7 official internal meetings during this quarter:  21/08/2018: Branch Manager’s annual reserve site visit to Table Bay Nature Reserve;  23/08/2018: Branch Management meeting;  31/08/2018: North Region Health & Safety Committee and Management meetings;  03/09/2018: Meeting regarding to compliance with cash management procedures audit report;  13/09/2018: Meeting with Tony van Ginkel about reporting to Table Bay Nature Reserve; and  21/09/2018: Site meeting in Diep River about reed harvesting.

9.1.2 External Meetings

Table Bay Nature Reserve staff attended no less than 13 official external meetings during this quarter:  02/07/2018: NQF 2 Learnership new intake meeting;  27/07/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Committee;  31/07/2018: Meeting with Dr Sparks of CPUT about Marine Science WIL students;  03/08/2018: Fitness and practical assessments of candidates for Assistant Conservation Officer;  08/08/2018: Berg Water Management Area Resource Quality Objectives meeting;  16/08/2018: Witzands Aquifer Nature Reserve multi-purpose centre launch event;  16/08/2018: Blaauwberg Development Area Environmental Liaison Committee;  22/08/2018: Verbal interviews for Milnerton Racecourse Contract Reserve Supervisor;  29/08/2018: Site meeting with HENCHEM regarding quote for Typha capensis spraying;  31/08/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Committee;  20/09/2018: Friends of Rietvlei evening meeting;  26/09/2018: Farewell function for Trevor Rieb;  28/09/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Committee.

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9.2 Benefit to People

9.2.1 Rietvlei Education Centre Usage

The use of the Rietvlei Education Centre, excluding formal environmental education programmes, generated 55 person days of benefit to people over three event days.

DATE GROUP ACTIVITY PERSON DAYS 16/08/2018 Blaauwberg Development Area Environmental Liaison Committee Meeting 15 23/08/2018 Friends of Rietvlei Evening talk 20 20/09/2018 Friends of Rietvlei Evening talk 20 TOTAL 55

9.2.2 Rietvlei Boma Usage

The use of the Rietvlei Boma generated at least 318 person days of benefit to people over 13 event days.

DATE GROUP ACTIVITY PERSON DAYS 3-5/07/2018 School holiday group School holiday programme 69 18/07/2018 People & Conservation Officers Quarterly meeting 15 Cape Town Metro Police – Camera 26/07/2018 Training workshop 32 Response / Video Unit 30/07/2018 CCT: Biodiversity Management Branch Staff member farewell function 15 01/08/2018 Cape Town Environmental Education Trust NQF 2 learner support 8 24/08/2018 CCT: Human Resource Department Training workshop 30 30/08/2018 CCT: IS&T – Telecommunications Staff member retirement function 40 31/08/2018 CCT: Probity Support Service Strategic Session 30 05/09/2018 SANCCOB Training workshop 20 26/09/2018 CCT: Biodiversity Management Branch Staff member retirement function 34 28/09/2018 CCT: Development Management Training workshop 25 TOTAL 318

9.2.3 Environmental Education and Outreach

9.2.3.1 Environmental Education and Outreach generated 234 person days of benefit over seven event days. See Figures 42-48 below.

TEACHER PERSON- DATE GROUP(S) LEARNERS PROGRAMME +ADULTS DAYS 03/07/2018 School holiday group 25 1 26 Young Greenies Roaring Fun – We Aren’t 04/07/2018 School holiday group 20 0 20 Lion 05/07/2018 School holiday group 23 0 23 Jumbo Dumbo Winter fun at Milnerton 06/07/2018 School holiday group 25 2 27 Racecourse 29/08/2018 Blouberg Ridge Primary Science Club 13 1 14 Biodiversity 13/09/2018 Claremont High school 68 2 70 Wetlands 20/09/2018 Shelanti Private School (off site) 48 6 54 Biodiversity TOTALS 222 12 234 TOTALS

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Figure 42. Young Greenies holiday programme at Rietvlei. Figure 43. Children planting fynbos in the Milnerton Racecourse.

Figure 44. Success comes from working together. Figure 45. Roaring Fun holiday programme at Rietvlei.

Figure 46. Staff guiding the Shelanti School in the Fynbos Corridor. Figure 47. CREW member, Petra Broddle, teaching about plants.

Figure 48. A group visiting the Milnerton Racecourse.

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9.3 Visitors and Income

9.3.1 Income from visitors at the Rietvlei Water Area was R25,014 from 1,146 recorded visitors during this quarter. Analysis of access control records collected from the Rietvlei main entrance gate since 2010 indicates that there is a seasonal trend in the number of visitors accessing Rietvlei. The highest number of visitors occurs from November to March (summer months) while the months April to October (the colder months) generally see much less visitors (see Figure 49 below).

1400

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0 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Figure 49. Average monthly visitors at Rietvlei Water Area (with polynomial trend-line) indicating the seasonal variation.

10 STAFF

10.1 Staff establishment

10.1.1 Assistant Conservation Officer, Trevor Rieb, retired at the end of September (see Figure 50 right). A farewell function was held for him on 26/09/2018. Trevor worked most of his career at the . After the power station closed down Trevor was transferred to Biodiversity Management Branch’s North Region in 2006. Within that year he was involved in a vehicle accident on duty which led to the loss of one of his legs. He wore a prosthetic leg since he returned to duty. Trevor’s vacant post was advertised through the City of Cape Town. The selection of a new candidate started on 03/08/2018 when applicants had to undergo a fitness and practical test. Verbal interviews were held on 13 and 15/08/2018. At the time of completing this report, the successful candidate has not been notified yet. It is expected that the new person will start working on 01/11/2018. Figure 50. Trevor Rieb (front).

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10.1.2 Contract Reserve Supervisor for the Milnerton Racecourse and Lagoon Section, Kyran Wright, resigned on 31/07/2018. Kyran, who was employed by the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET), obtained a permanent reserve supervisor position at the Zandvlei Estuary Nature Reserve from the City of Cape Town. His contract vacancy was advertised through CTEET. Applicants had to submit written practical assignments and verbal interviews were held on 22/08/2018. Hester Pentz was successful in her application for this position (see Figure 51 right) and she was offered to start working in Kyran’s place from 30/08/2018. Hester was previously a Work-integrated Learning student at the Table Bay Nature Reserve during her diploma studies in 2015. Later she was appointed as a graduate intern at Table Bay Nature Reserve in 2017. She then worked for a short period of time as the Contract Reserve Supervisor at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate. Her new position is funded by the Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Committee and administered by CTEET. Figure 51. Hester next to a young Eland at Rondevlei.

10.1.3 Intern Reserve Supervisor, Waseem Parker, resigned on 12/09/2018. Waseem’s internship was funded by CATHSSETA and administered through the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET). Waseem was successful in applying for an invasive species project manager contract position at the Westlake Conservation Centre. His new post is funded by the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

10.1.4 Five temporary workers were employed via the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) from 13/09 to 12/10/2018. The workers were sourced from the Dunoon community and appointed by the Westlake Conservation Centre. They assisted in the daily operations of reserve management, including litter clean-ups, invasive alien plant control, data collection, and maintenance of infrastructure such as fence repairs and footpath maintenance.

10.1.5 Area Manager, Koos Retief, acted as stand-in North Regional Manager for Bongani Mnisi from 30/07- 03/08/2018, as well as from 03-21/09/2018.

10.1.6 Learner Luke Linde joined 10.1.7 Two Marine Science work-integrated learning students the Nature Reserve on 02/07/2018. (Mokgethwa Mamashela and John-Charles Goeiman) from the Cape His learnership is funded by Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) joined the Nature Reserve for CATHSSETA and is administered by a year in-service training from July 2018 to June 2019. The Marine the Cape Town Environmental Science students’ placements are funded by CATHSSETA and also Education Trust (CTEET) (Figure 52). administered by CTEET (see Figures 53-54 below).

Figure 52. Luke Linde. Figure 53. Mokgethwa Mamashela. Figure 54. John-Charles Goeiman.

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10.2 Training and development

10.2.1 Training of permanent and temporary staff at the Table Bay Nature Reserve amounted to no less than 17 person days over 15 training event days, including the following interventions:

Number of Number of Person Date(s) Course days x learners = days 3-4/07/2018 NQF 2 Learnership Induction of new intake 2 1 2 26-31/08/2018 NQF 2 Learnership Training Camp 6 1 6 02-07/09/2018 NQF 2 Learnership Training Camp 6 1 6 13/09/2018 Intern & Student Enrichment visit to 1 3 3 TOTALS 15 N/A 17

Figure 55. Learners and students currently based at Table Bay Nature Reserve include (from left to right) Luke Linde, Robyn Klein, Mokgethwa Mamashela, Malikah Kassiem and John-Charles Goeiman.

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11 LAW ENFORCEMENT

11.1 Two joint operations were conducted with the Law Enforcement Department on 26/07/2018 and 30/08/2018. One illegal structure and at least three temporary overnight camping sites were removed from the Zoarvlei Section, as well as three illegal structures from the Diep River Section. The materials were disposed of at a landfill site (see Figures 56-58 below). The majority of the displaced people who used to sleep in the Nature Reserve at the Zoarvlei Section have now moved into the railway line. No less than 12 people have taken up residence under the railway bridge that runs below the R27 near Lagoon Beach. The underside of the bridge is out of sight from motorists, and therefore these people continue to live there without being detected. The matter was reported to SANRAL. Several other displaced people are sleeping in the R27 road verge (just outside the nature Reserve boundary) under dense bushes and inside stormwater pipes on the side of the road. Many of these displaced people beg at the traffic intersections. This matter was reported to the Roads Department who were requested to remove the dense bushes from the R27 road verge to limit the amount of cover.

The public are encouraged to help protect the Nature Reserve by reporting cases of illegal overnighting. Motorists are advised not to give money to people at traffic intersections since this practice does not help these people to re-integrate into society, but it only enables them to continue living on the street.

Figure 56. Illegal overnight camping site in Zoarvlei Section. Figure 57. Illegal overnight camping site in Zoarvlei Section.

Figure 58. Nature Reserve staff and workers removing an illegal structure near the Diep River.

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11.2 Three people were apprehended in the Zoarvlei Section by Contract Reserve Supervisor Reward Nzuza. The suspects were in possession of various plants that and flowers that were taken from the Nature Reserve, including ten Ferraria crispa, 50 Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum lily) and a crate full of Cyperus textilis (see Figures 59 right and 60 below). The material was confiscated and the Ferraria crispa plants were re-planted back in the Nature Reserve. The perpetrators stated that they took the plants and flowers for a wedding ceremony and they were not aware that they are not allowed to pick flowers in the Nature Reserve. Figure 59. Some of the plant material confiscated.

Figure 60. Zantedeschia aethiopica (left), Ferraria crispa (above), and Cyperus textilis (right).

11.3 Illegally dumped rubbish was removed from the Zoarvlei Section and transported to the Killarney Waste Facility. Dumping is one of the biggest challenges in Zoarvlei and has been ongoing for the past two years with no solution in sight. It is costing the municipality very large amounts to remove illegal dumping (see Figures 61-62 below). The disposal of used motor oil into stormwater canals is another challenge that not only affects water quality but also the aquatic life. There have been several incidents of oil spillages into the Zoarvlei water body via the stormwater channels.

The public are encouraged to help protect the Nature Reserve by reporting cases of illegal dumping. Residents are advised to ensure that all waste is disposed of legally by the means provided by the municipality. It is illegal to dump waste in public spaces.

Figure 61. Removing illegal dumping. Figure 62. Removing illegal dumping.

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Table Bay Nature Reserve | Tafelbaai-natuurreservaat | ULondolozo lweNdalo lase-Table Bay

12 INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT

12.1 Path and boardwalk maintenance was done in the Milnerton Racecourse Section. A brush-cutter was used to trim the path. The boardwalk was treated by painting it with linseed oil.

Figure 63. Linseed oil treatment on boardwalk. Figure 64. Access path before trimming. Figure 65. Access path after trimming.

12.2 A cable gate was placed across the pedestrian lane at Justin Street to prevent vehicles from illegally accessing and dumping in the Zoarvlei Section of the Nature Reserve. 12.3 Blocked sewers and overflowing manholes in Zoarvlei were reported to Water & Sanitation. 12.4 Graffiti on the walls bordering the Zoarvlei Section were painted over. 12.5 Missing manhole covers in the Zoarvlei Section were reported to Water & Sanitation.

Figure 66. Welding a cable gate. Figure 67. Cable gate installed.

Figure 68. Contractors unblocking a sewer. Figure 69. Painting over graffiti.

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APPENDIX A: MAP OF THE MANAGEMENT SECTIONS OF THE NATURE RESERVE

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APPENDIX B: ADDITIONAL PRESS ARTICLES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE NATURE RESERVE

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