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

APRIL – JUNE 2018

CONTENTS Pg.

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... 2

2 HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES ...... 2

3 CONSERVATION PLANNING ...... 3

4 FLORA ...... 4

5 FAUNA ...... 6

6 SOIL ...... 9

7 WATER ...... 10

8 FIRE ...... 12

9 PEOPLE, TOURISM & EDUCATION ...... 14

10 STAFF ...... 18

11 LAW ENFORCEMENT ...... 19

12 INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT ...... 20

APPENDIX A: MAP OF RESERVE ...... 23

APPENDIX B: PRESS ARTICLES ...... 24

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

 Volunteering plays an important role in the daily operations of managing a nature reserve. The administration of volunteers however is very time-consuming as various legal aspects have to be considered, including health and safety and public liability. We urge people who want to volunteer at a nature reserve in the City to follow the process set out in the following web-link: http://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Get-involved/Volunteer/volunteer-at-a-city-nature- reserve-or-in-a-biodiversity-programme  The ’s advisory committee had its twelfth meeting on 3/05/2018. In terms of the Constitution, advisory committees serve for three years after which they have to reform. An advertisement was placed in local and regional newspapers inviting interested and affected stakeholders to apply for membership of the committee.  The restoration of the Critically Endangered sand fynbos in a portion of the , which was previously used for horse training, is progressing well. A prescribed ecological burn was implemented and a Grysbok exclusion fence was constructed. A talk about this progress was presented at the recent AGM of the Friends of Rietvlei.  Various surveys to count , butterflies and nocturnal wildlife took place.  Rainfall rose well above average levels for this first time after a protracted drought period. This caused several seasonal wetlands, pans and ponds to fill up.  The estuary mouth at the Milnerton Lagoon had to be artificially breached again several times this quarter. It is hoped that the increased rainfall and water flowing down the Diep River will now keep the mouth open throughout winter.  School holiday programs have become a very popular institution at this Nature Reserve.  New nature reserve signboards were constructed at the Milnerton Racecourse and Zoarvlei with the support of generous partnership funding.  Several joint operations with Law Enforcement were conducted to remove illegal structures from the Nature Reserve.  An old boardwalk in the Milnerton Racecourse was replaced with the support of partnership funds.  More than a thousand people benefited from the Nature Reserve’s meeting room facilities for meetings, training and environmental education.  More than a thousand people also benefited from the Nature Reserve recreational and watersports facilities during this quarter.

2 HIGHLIGHTS & CHALLENGES

2.1 HIGHLIGHT: A prescribed ecological burn was successfully conducted in a 1,9 hectare portion of the fynbos restoration site at the Milnerton Racecourse on 12/04/2018. The burn forms part of a plan to restore the fynbos in an area inside the racecourse that was previously used for horse training purposes. This land has now been donated to the Nature Reserve.

Fire is the most important ecosystem driver in fynbos. Fynbos needs to burn over time intervals that are long enough to allow plants to set seed, but not too long before the seeds lose their viability. Fynbos that never experiences fire eventually produce less seeds, and offers little or no forage for wildlife.

2.2 CHALLENGE: Displaced people and illegal structures remain some of the biggest challenges in the Nature Reserve. Despite years of efforts to remove make-shift shelters from he natural spaces, the pressure does not seem to abate. In fact it seems that the pressure on our open spaces is just increasing with more and more homeless people looking for a place to take shelter.

We encourage the public to report incidents and locations of illegal overnighting in the Nature Reserve so that these problems can be addressed.

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3 CONSERVATION PLANNING

3.1 The Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAAC) for Table Bay Nature Reserve had its twelfth meeting on 3/05/2018. The meeting was attended by 25 representatives from 18 organisations, including:

Guest: Al Mare Development Friends of Rietvlei Cape Club Milnerton Aquatic Club Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve Milnerton Canoe Club CCT: Biodiversity Management Branch Milnerton Central Residents Association CCT: Water & Sanitation, Catchments Planning Paardeneiland City Improvement District CCT: Subcouncil 15 SANCCOB CCT: Subcouncil 3 Sunset Beach Homeowners Association Dolphin Beach Body Corporate Sunset Links Homeowners Association Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area Woodbridge Island Body Corporate

Some of the items on the agenda included:

 Water quality improvement projects in the Diep River system, feedback by Mr Ben de Wet  Erosion of the Northern shore adjacent to Al Mare development (survey results and management options), feedback by Mr Ben de Wet and Mr Koos Retief  Diep Estuary action plan update, feedback by Mr Kyran Wright  Quarterly Report (Jan to Mar 2018), presentation by Mr Koos Retief

The establishment of Protected Area Advisory Committees is provided for in the Protected Areas Act, and is primarily intended to involve neighbouring communities in decision-making regarding protected areas. The PAAC is the only forum at the Table Bay Nature Reserve in which neighbouring communities, user groups and interested and affected parties can readily have their opinions represented to the Management Authority. As such, the public are encouraged to contact the Nature Reserve office to determine who is representing their various interests on the PAAC. In terms of the Constitution of the PAACs, the committees serve a period of three years, after which they must reform. All existing members would have to apply to renew their membership, and prospective new members can also apply. Advertisements were placed in local and regional newspapers from 14-18/05/2018 (see Figure 1 right). The Area Manager sent the advertisement to all existing members of the current PAAC as well as to all listed stakeholders relevant to the Table Bay Nature Reserve. The closing date was 14/06/2018, and a panel will review all applications in the next quarter. Figure 1. Invitation published in regional and local newspapers.

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4 FLORA

4.1 Invasive alien vegetation was cleared from several management sections during this quarter, including:  Acacia saligna (Port Jackson) saplings, Tagetes minuta (Kakiebos) (see Figure 2 right), and Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu grass) from the Milnerton Racecourse.  Port Jacksons, Acacia cyclops (Rooikrans), Malva arborea (Lavatera), Sesbania punicea (Red sesbania), a Palm tree, and alien Aloes from the Zoarvlei Wetland.  Various species, including Port Jacksons and Eucalyptus trees from the Diep River and Fynbos Corridor.  Various Palm trees and Port Jacksons from the Rietvlei Section.

Palm trees are invasive and should not be planted. Figure 2. Tagetes minuta in the Milnerton Racecourse.

4.2 The restoration of the Critically Endangered in a portion of the Milnerton Racecourse, which was previously used for horse training, is progressing (see Figure 3 below). Veldspan steel mesh fence (700m) was purchased by the CPUT and the NRF to support the Masters Research Project of Landi Louw. An additional 200m of Veldspan fencing was purchased by the Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Committee (EMC) (see Figure 5 overleaf). This steel mesh fence replaced an old shade-cloth fence constructed by the landscaping contractors of the Milnerton Racecourse, which was removed off-site. The steel mesh fence, which was constructed by Nature Reserve staff, is expected to last longer and be more effective at keeping grysbokkies out of the restoration area. The fynbos restoration site was burned on 12/04/2018 (see Fire) to prime the soil for the broadcasting of fynbos seeds and planting of propagated plants. This burn was the first formal record of fire on this particular portion of land. After the burn, smoke-treated fynbos seeds were broadcast over the burnt area on 13/04/2018. Planting of propagated plants is scheduled to take place during the next quarter. Carprobrotus edulis (sour figs) were hand-pulled from the restoration area from 22/05/2018 onwards to prevent them invading the whole area and outcompeting the fynbos plants. The pile of sourfigs were removed off-site (see Figure 4 below). Bird perches are going to be placed at the restoarion area to faciliate the return of raptor birds (see Figure 7 overleaf).

Figure 3. The restoration area. Figure 4. Piles of removed sour figs.

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4.3 A workload assessment of woody invasive alien species was conducted on 03/04/2018. 4.4 Search-and-rescue operations to save indigenous plants from developments sites in the Rivergate area were conducted on 10/04/2018; 03/05/2018; 22/06, and 25-27/06/2018. 4.5 Owl boxes were installed at the Sunningdale Pan on 18/04/2018 to facilitate the return of raptor birds to the area. 4.6 The City issued a media release about the dispersal of Typha capensis (bulrush) seeds and this was published in local newspapers. The purpose of the media release was to inform the public that although Typha seeds can be a pervasive, they are not harmful other than being a nuisance (see below Figure 5. Construction of exclusion fence at Milnerton Racecourse. Figure 6).

Figure 7. Bird perch being prepared to be placed at Milnerton Racecourse. Figure 6. Article in the local press.

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5 FAUNA

5.1 A water bird census was conducted on 04/05/2018. The census was done by the Nature Reserve staff, covering 11 survey sections. The water birds numbered a total of 1,723 birds comprising of 31 species (see Figures 8-10 for details).

10 species with single-figure counts (totalling 55 birds) accounted for 3,2% of the water bird census, 55 including: one , two Purple , four Yellowbilled egret, five Pied kingfisher and hybrid each, seven Blackheaded heron and Hadeda ibis each, and eight Little , African 410 , and Greater each. 15 species with double-figure counts (totalling 410 birds) accounted for 23,8% of the water bird census, including: 10 Whitebreasted , 11 , 11 Redbilled teal, 13 , 18 Little egret, 18 Cape , 20 Swift tern, 24 Sacred ibis, 1258 25 African black oystercatcher, 29 Common moorhen, 31 Cape teal, 32 Blackwinged stilt, 44 Cape shoveller, 62 , and 62 Blacksmith lapwing. 6 species with triple-figure counts (totalling 1,258 10 species with single-figure counts birds) accounted for 73,0% of the water bird census, 15 species with double-figure counts including: 107 White , 164 Kelp gul, 170 6 species with triple-figure counts Egyptian goose, 234 Redknobbed coot, 266 Yellowbilled duck, and 317 Hartlaub's gull. Figure 8. Relative contribution of low, medium and high counts.

Ibis & spoonbill, 42 , Potsdam Other, 26 Cormorant WWTW, 65 egrets and s, 72 darter, 53 Zoarvlei Diep River, North, 45 Zoarvlei Plover & 117 South, waders, North Vlei, 104 114 137

Lagoon South Vlei, Gulls & 184 Terns, 501 South, 290 Ducks & Central Pan, Geese, 135 522

Dolphin Lagoon Coots & North, 396 Beach, 262 Moorhens, 263

Milnerton , Channel, 11 107

Figure 9. Relative contribution from each survey section. Figure 10. Relative contribution from the various bird groups.

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5.2 A butterfly survey was conducted in Zoarvlei. Butterflies are indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem. Butterflies benefit vegetation by pollinating some plants. Nature Conservation students Robyn Klein, Malikah Kassiem, and intern Pier Cosenza assisted in conducting the survey (see Figures 11-12 below). Provisional identifications of the species included Cape autumn widow (Dira clytus), Common Meadow white butterfly (Pontia helice) and Water bronze (Cacyreus tespis).

Figure 11. Students and intern surveying butterflies. Figure 12. A Painted lady butterfly (Cynthia cardui) at Milnerton Racecourse. 5.3 A nocturnal survey was conducted at Milnerton Racecourse on 23/05/2018. Six members of the public joined and were led by the Site Manager Kyran Wright after sunset. The following were recorded: one domestic , Cape sand frog, Rain spider, and Cape spurfowl each, two King crickets, three Cape grysbok, and 23 Cape dwarf (see Figures 13-16 below).

Figure 13. Cape sand frog. Figure 14. King cricket.

Figure 15. Rain spider. Figure 16. Juvenile Cape dwarf .

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5.4 Wildlife photographers, Jan and Frieda Prinsloo, sent in some beautiful photographs from their surveys at the Rietvlei wetlands, including this Marsh harrier and Cape grysbok (see Figures 17-18 below).

Figure 17. Marsh harrier with prey in its talons (photo by Jan and Frieda Prinsloo).

Figure 18. Cape grysbok ewe (photo by Jan and Frieda Prinsloo).

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5.5 A group of Cape clawless otters was spotted by Mr Steve Williams at the Milnerton Lagoon. He took this picture which was published in a local newspaper (see Figure 19 below).

Figure 19. Photo and caption in the local press.

6 SOIL

6.1 Soil samples were collected in the Milnerton Racecourse on 19/04/2018 around various plants that were displaying signs of die-off (see Figure 20 right). The soil samples will be tested by University of Pretoria PhD student, Joey Hulbert, for the occurrence of the root fungus, Phytophtohra. Phytophtohra is a microscopic plant parasite which is known to cause root rot in a number of indigenous plant species, and ultimately lead to their death. Due to their impact on indigenous flora, it is important to identify which species are present in our reserves and to identify any new invasions. In some areas, this parasite has caused fairly large patches of veld to die out. Figure 20. Suretha Dorse collecting soil samples in the racecourse.

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7 WATER

7.1 Rainfall recorded in the Table Bay Nature Reserve rose above average during this quarter. The total rainfall during this quarter was 250.3 mm at Rietvlei and 231.5 mm at Milnerton Racecourse. As a result the pans and seasonal wetlands have been filling up. Figure 21 below compares the current year’s rainfall accumulation in Rietvlei to date, with that of the average accumulation curve, as well as the wettest and driest years in recent history. Figure 22 below indicates the monthly rainfall records of Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average rainfall pattern. Figure 23 below indicates the accumulation curves for Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse, plotted over the average rainfall accumulation curve.

800.0 Wettest year (2013), 700.0 669.5

600.0

Average accumulation, 500.0 467.3

400.0

300.0 Current year (2018)

Driest year (2010), 200.0 273.0

100.0

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

Figure 21. Rainfall accumulation comparisons from Rietvlei.

140 500 450 120 400 100 350 300 80 250 60 200

40 150 100 20 50 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Average Rietvlei Racecourse Average Rietvlei Racecourse

Figure 22. Monthly rainfall records of Rietvlei and Milnerton Figure 23. Rainfall accumulation curves of Rietvlei and Milnerton Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average rainfall pattern. Racecourse in 2018 plotted over the average accumulation curve.

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7.2 The estuary mouth at the Milnerton Lagoon started closing in 2017 due to low flow in the river and the formation of a sand bar along the seafront (see Figure 24 below). This resulted in river water being unable to flow out to sea, while the high tides are able to flow over the sand bar into the Lagoon. The water levels rose steadily until local flooding became a concern. Environmental authorisation was obtained in 2017 to use an excavator to breach the sand bar to prevent flooding, and this method was previously used to breach the mouth on 17/10/2017, 07/11/2017, 05/12/2017, and 21/02/2018. During this quarter the mouth was breached again on 6/04, 20/04/, 21/05, and 25/05/2018. The breaching prevented the water level from rising to the point where nearby public infrastructure could become flooded.

Figure 24. Excavator breaching the sand bar at the Milnerton Lagoon during a storm event.

7.3 A storm hit the Cape on 31/05/2018. A tidal surge pushed up into the Milnerton Lagoon and breached the seawalls and spilled over into the Palm site between the lagoon and the R27 (see Figure 25 below). Floodwater pushed all the way up onto the sports grounds and affected traffic and some private properties along the R27 in the early hours of 01/06/2018.

Figure 25. Flood water lying on the Palm Site on 01/06/2018.

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8 FIRE

8.1 A prescribed ecological burn was conducted in a 1,9 hectare portion of a fynbos restoration site at the Milnerton Racecourse on 12/04/2018 (see also: The restoration of the Critically Endangered Cape Flats sand fynbos in a portion of the Milnerton Racecourse). A burn permit was obtained from the City’s Air Pollution Unit on 5/04/2018. The Biodiversity Management Branch, the Fire Department and Working on Fire cooperated to implement the burn. About 50 staff members were in attendance. The local Fire Department, Fire Protection Agency (CPFPA) and the Air Pollution Unit were informed of the burn according to the permit requirements (see Figures 26-34). No water was used to control or extinguish the fire due to the water restrictions in place. Some non- potable water was kept on standby to put out the fire, if needed, but this was never required. The burn site was completely cleared of the small antelope (Cape grysbok) that occur on site and they experienced no danger. The burn took place between 10:30 and 12:30. No complaints were received about smoke. Figure 26. Controlling the burn (photo by Charl van der Merwe).

Fire is the most important ecosystem driver in fynbos. Without fire, fynbos seeds will hardly germinate. Fynbos needs to burn over time intervals that are long enough to allow plants to set seed, but not too long before the seeds lose their viability. The implementaiton of a block burning programme is intended to mimic the natural occurrence of fire. A nature reserve with a block burning plan can have vegetation blocks of different ages. The Milnerton Racecouse has four blocks of different ages. This promotes plant diversity while also offering good browsing and grazing habitat for wildlife at any time. Fynbos that never experiences fire eventually produce less seeds, and offers little or no forage for wildlife.

Figure 27. Staff up on the fire line (photo by Charl van der Merwe). Figure 28. Manual suppression of flames (photo by Pier Cosenza).

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Figure 29. Monitoring the fire line (photo by Charl van der Merwe). Figure 30. Intense heat released (photo by Charl van der Merwe).

Figure 31. Path of vegetation burning out (photo by Pier Cosenza). Figure 32. Minimal smoke impacts (photo by Pier Cosenza).

Figure 33. Using a leaf-blower. Figure 34. The burnt site after the fire cleared.

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9 PEOPLE, TOURISM & EDUCATION

9.1 Stakeholder Engagement

9.1.1 A slide presentation and talk on the restoration and burning of the fynbos at the Milnerton Racecourse was offered to the Friends of Rietvlei on 31/05/2018 during their annual general meeting. The talk was presented by Kyran Wright, Reserve Supervisor of the Milnerton Racecourse, and Landi Louw, Master’s degree student from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

9.1.2 Internal Meetings

Table Bay Nature Reserve staff attended no less than 8 official internal meetings during this quarter:  13/04/2018: Internal recycling workshop;  13/04/2018: Branch Reserve Supervisors’ meeting;  18/04/2018: Fauna Management Committee;  20/04/2018: North Region Management and Health & Safety meetings;  17/05/2018: Uniform Standard Operating Procedure;  24/05/2018: Branch Management meeting; and  25/05/2018: North Region Management meeting.

9.1.3 External Meetings

Table Bay Nature Reserve staff attended no less than 23 official external meetings during this quarter:  03/04/2018: Woody alien species workload assessment site inspections;  10/04/2018: Meeting with SAMWU representatives;  10/04/2018: Rietvlei north bank erosion discussion;  12/04/2018: Blaauwberg Area Development Environmental Liaison Committee;  16/04/2018: Royal Ascot Environmental Audit Site Inspections;  18/04/2018: Feedback about surveys of Rietvlei north shore erosion;  20/04/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Meeting;  25/04/2018: Milnerton Aquatic Club Power Section;  03/05/2018: Protected Area Advisory Committee meeting;  09/05/2018: PECID security meeting;  10/05/2018: Discussion with Law Enforcement about illegal livestock grazing in Diep River Section;  15/05/2018: Coastal Management regarding Table Bay Nature Reserve’s Coastal Section;  16/05/2018: Ad hoc development setback application at Erf 6156 and Erf 12202;  17/05/2018: PECID security meeting;  23/05/2018: Ad hoc development setback application at Erf 6156 and Erf 12202;  25/05/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Meeting;  28/05/2018: Cape Peninsula University of Technology regarding student progress;  30/05/2018: Estuaries Workshop of the Berg WMA Resource Quality Objectives (RQO) study;  31/05/2018: Friends of Rietvlei AGM with guest speakers Kyran Wright and Landi Louw;  11/06/2018: Access control discussion with Milnerton Aquatic Club;  14/06/2018: Blaauwberg Area Development Environmental Liaison Committee;  20/06/2018: PECID security meeting; and  29/06/2018: Milnerton Racecourse Environmental Management Meeting.

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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 67 person days of benefit to people over four event days.

DATE GROUP ACTIVITY PERSON DAYS 05/04/2018 Friends of Rietvlei Evening meeting 20 Blaauwberg Development Area 12/04/2018 Meeting 15 Environmental Liaison Committee 31/05/2018 Friends of Rietvlei Annual General Meeting 20 Blaauwberg Development Area 14/06/2018 Meeting 12 Environmental Liaison Committee TOTAL 67

9.2.2 Rietvlei Boma Usage

The use of the Rietvlei Boma generated at least 570 person days of benefit to people over 17 event days.

DATE GROUP ACTIVITY PERSON DAYS 09/04/2018 Partners for Eco Fun day Planning meeting 10 10/04/2018 Area Economic Development Area north unit meeting 15 16/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 53 17/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 35 18/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 62 20/04/2018 North Region Management Monthly meeting 12 21/04/2018 Friends of BCA talk by Prof Retha 20 23/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 42 24/04/2018 Directorate of the Mayor Workshop 15 25/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 33 26/04/2018 SDECD Dept – EPWP group Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 32 Table Bay Nature Reserve Advisory 03/05/2018 Meeting 25 Committee 11/05/2018 Business Resource Management Planning meeting 15 21/05/2018 Environmental Management Department Meeting 10 22/05/2018 Subcouncil 3 Table Bay Nature Reserve Presentation 20 SD and ECD – Vulnerable groups & 24/05/2018 Work stream meeting 11 communities 30/05/2018 Invasive Species Unit Meeting with EPWP workers 160 TOTAL 570

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9.2.3 Environmental Education and Outreach

9.2.3.1 Environmental Education and Outreach generated 409 person days of benefit over 12 event days. See Figures 35-41 below and overleaf.

TEACHER PERSON- DATE GROUP(S) LEARNERS PROGRAMME +ADULTS DAYS Basic birdwatching for 03/04/2018 School holiday group 9 1 10 kids & miniSASS Basic birdwatching for 05/04/2018 School holiday group 11 1 12 kids & miniSASS 13/04/2018 Table Bay Nature Reserve staff 0 13 13 Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 16/04/2018 0 53 53 /Langa EPWP ladies walk Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 17/04/2018 0 35 35 Factreton/Scottsdene EPWP ladies walk Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 18/04/2018 0 62 62 Atlantis EPWP ladies walk Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 23/04/2018 0 42 42 Oceanview EPWP ladies walk Visit to Table Bay Nature Reserve staff Integrated Waste 24/04/2018 0 11 11 (off-site) Management facility &

Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 25/04/2018 0 33 33 EPWP ladies walk

Women for change (SDECD dept.) Presentation & guided 26/04/2018 0 32 32 Lavender hill EPWP ladies walk Wetland programme - 07/06/2018 CBC St. Johns – Parklands grade 5 42 2 44 Birdwatching & MiniSASS Wetland programme - 18/06/2018 The Ark Christian school Gr. 5,6,7 60 2 62 Birdwatching & MiniSASS TOTALS 122 287 409 TOTALS

Figure 35. Holiday program attendee. Figure 36. Volunteer, Pier Cosenza, hosting a holiday program group.

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Figure 37. Women for Change Programme (Social Development and Figure 38. Nature reserve staff visiting the Kraaifontein Integrated Early Childhood Development Department) going on a guided walk. Waste Management Facility.

Figure 39. Learners from the Ark Christian School group photo. Figure 40. Learners from the Ark Christian School doing miniSASS.

Figure 41. Learners from CBC St. Johns, Parklands, undergoing the wetlands programme.

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9.3 Visitors and Income

9.3.1 Income from visitors at the Rietvlei Water Area was R22,902 from 1,376 recorded visitors during this quarter. The number of visitors declined following a die-off in Rietvlei in November 2016 and a blue-green algal bloom that lasted from March to June 2017. The fish populations at Rietvlei have not recovered yet, which means that the income from recreational fishing at the Water Area is still very low. It is hoped that flooding in the winter might connect Rietvlei with the Milnerton Lagoon in which case fish might come up into the Rietvlei Water Area.

10 STAFF

10.1 Staff establishment

10.1.1 Interviews were held to place two NQF level 2 Nature Guardianship learners at the Nature Reserve by means of a placement agreement with the Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) with funding from CATHSSETA. However, one of the candidates that was offered a placement withdrew the application. As a result the funding for one of the placements was lost and only one learner will be placed in the next quarter. 10.1.2 Interviews were held to place two Marine Science work integrated learning students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology at the Nature Reserve through a placement agreement with CTEET. The two students will be placed in the next quarter. 10.1.3 Competence assessments were undertaken for the two Nature Conservation work integrated learning students Robyn Klein and Malikah Kassiem in terms of the requirements of the CPUT. 10.1.4 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers were recruited from the areas of Subcouncils 1, 3 and 15 from funds allocated by the Kader Asmal Project and the Greenest Metro Competition. The placements were made through the Green Jobs Section at the Westlake Conservation Centre.

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 32 person days over 12 training event days, including the following interventions:

Number of Number of Person Date(s) Course days x learners = days 08/05/2018 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Training 1 1 1 4-8/06/2018 Fynbos Identification Course 5 5 25 11-15/06/2018 Fynbos Identification Course 5 1 5 22/06/2018 NQF2 Learnership Teambuilding Day 1 1 1 TOTALS 12 N/A 32

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11 LAW ENFORCEMENT

11.1 Joint operations were conducted with assistance from Law Enforcement to remove illegal structures and displaced people from the Nature Reserve on 11, 12, and 14/06/2018. Social Services offer assistance to displaced people to re-integrated them into society, but some displaced people don’t accept offers of assistance. All materials removed from these sites are disposed of at a local landfill site (see Figures 42-43).

Figure 42. A displaced person found sleeping in the Nature Reserve. Figure 43. Staff clearing a site where people were sleeping.

11.2 Other compliance challenges (see Figures 44-47 below) included:  Vandalism to gates, signs, and fences in various sections  Illegal cattle grazing in the Diep River Section  Dumping and littering

Figure 44. A cable gate was destroyed by vandals. Figure 45. Cattle grazing in the Diep River.

Figure 46. Staff removing dumped rubbish. Figure 47. An illegal structure that appeared overnight.

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12 INFRASTRUCTURE & EQUIPMENT

12.1 Three new Nature Reserve sign boards were 12.2 Four new Nature Reserve sign boards were installed at the Milnerton Racecourse. The signs were installed at the Zoarvlei Section. The signs were designed and funded by Mr Charl van der Merwe of funded by the Paardeneiland City Improvement the Environmental Management Committee (see District (PECID) (see Figure 49 below). Figure 48 below). The sign boards are located at the The signs were required because drivers were pulling entrance to the Northern Area and along Grand trucks and other large vehicles onto the Nature National Boulevard. Reserve land and destroying infrastructure and vegetation. PECID contributed almost R10,000 to the production of the sign boards. We wish to thank the Milnerton Racecourse EMC and PECID for heir generous contributions.

Figure 48. New sign at Milnerton Racecourse. Figure 49. Un-wrapping a new sign for Zoarvlei.

12.3 Path maintenance was done in the Milnerton Rcecourse and in Zoarvlei near the Brooklyn Chest Hospital (see Figure 50 below), by weeding and the removal of plants growing over the paths.

Figure 50. Clearing a footpath at Zoarvlei.

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12.4 The boardwalk at the Milnerton Racecourse was dismantled and rebuilt due to the old age of the timber. The material, costing over R10,000, was funded by the Milnerton Racecourse EMC and the work was done by Nature Reserve staff (see Figure 51 collage below).

Figure 51. Various stages of completion of the boardwalk.

12.5 EPWP worker teams employed by the Nature Reserve were tasked to undertake several maintenance acitivies, including:  Litter and rubble pickup (see Figure 52 below)  Cleaning and cutting road edges (see Figure 53 below)  Site cleaning  Alien vegetation removal  Removal of illegal structures

Figure 52. Coastal cleaning team at the lagoon. Figure 53. EPWP team cutting and cleaning road verge.

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12.6 The City’s Stormwater Department appointed a contractor team to clean various stormwater outlets that flow into the Nature Reserve (see Figures 54-55). The reason for the work is to ensure that stormwater pipes flow freely during rain events so that flooding in residential areas and on roads are minimised.

Figure 54. A contractor team cleaning a stormwater outlet channel Figure 55. A contractor team removing reeds that were cleared out into the Nature Reserve. of the stormwater channel.

12.7 Various blocked and overflowing sewer pipes and manholes were reported to Water & Sanition during this quarter. The Water & Sanitation Department use various means to unblock the sewere pipes and to pump the spilled sewerage back into the system (see Figures 56-57 below).

Figure 56. An overflowing sewer manhole in the Zoarvlei Section. Figure 57. The process of unblocking a sewer pipe.

12.8 Road barricades along Grey Street and Milner Road adjacent to Zoarvlei were crushed by truckers that drive over the kerbs. New barricades were placed to protect the Nature Reserve (see Figures 58-59).

Figure 58. Repairing an armco barrier at Zoarvlei. Figure 59. Repairing a cable barrier at Zoarvlei.

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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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