Zandvlei Trust

Comment on the Constantia Uistig - Ithuba reform proposal - November 2010.

22 November 2010

To: Doug Jeffery Environmental Consultants
P.O.Box 44,
Klapmuts
7625

tel: 021 875 5272
email: Lindsay@dougjeff.co.za

Attention: Lindsay Spiers.

Proposed Constantia Uitsig Ithuba Reform Project - DEA&DP E12/2/4/1-A5/98-2011/10

Dear Lindsay,
On behalf of Zandvlei Trust and its members I find the issues of the stated Land Reform a little confusing and a concern is the way the proposal is presented so as to obfusticate those wishing to comment for the following reasons;

• Little or no information is available on how the Land Reform issue will be addressed.

• Is it Land Reform or Land Restitution?

• Who are the registered members of the Ithuba Group?

• Are all the current farm workers the 100 % shareholders?

• Are there any other persons, organisations, and businesses shareholders in the Ithuba Group?

• Who is advising and representing their financial, legal interests?

This is the prime issue, as many see this proposal as a cynical commercial venture, and ploy to move the urban edge for a suburban complex, on a working farm, to be able to fund their workers with 30% participation / ownership shares. The current owners are not proposing to sacrifice any of their own business (the tourism and restaurant sector) to share in this proposed business venture with the workers.

A real concern for many is that if this proposal is approved all the neighbouring farms will follow suite and further erode the rural Constantia Valley which has been proposed for a World Heritage and Cultural area.

Further concerns for our members are the proposed additional blocks of vineyards adjacent to the wetland (14c freshwater ecosystems). This system has been identified as an important conservation area and feeds into Zandvlei via the Grootboschkloof, which annually receives vast amounts of topsoil, sediment and nutrients from poor farming methods in the Constantia Valley.

• How will additional nutrients and spray residues be excluded from this wetland / river course, which is at a lower elevation than the proposed vineyard blocks?

The Prinskasteel River to the south, where it flows onto the Uitsig property near to the proposed relocated stables, sheds, and maintenance block is of concern.

• How will nutrients, oils, grease, fuels, residues of insecticides and pesticides be prevented from entering the groundwater, stormwater and river course?
• What management interventions will take place if such spills occur?
• What business practices will be regularly enforced and inspected to proactively make sure no farming liquids, solids, nutrients and other associated farming matter enters these watercourses.

The more suburban development along the watercourses the more suburban impacts there are to the catchments river system and ultimately the Zandvlei estuary. There is a thresh hold to how much these natural systems can withstand. All landowners have a responsibility to manage their land accordingly.
Zandvlei has just been through the process of an Estuary Management Plan, which will be promulgated early 2011.

A suggestion that the farming representatives make themselves available to participate in the Sand River Catchment Forum meetings, which try to address issues of the catchment and foster a good working relationship with a variety of role player representatives by an exchange of information sharing.

Regards,
Gavin Lawson.