Greater  Zandvlei  Estuary  Nature  Reserve

 In and around the Reserve – April 2009

This is a great newsletter and I'm so glad to read so many positive things (in response the Leif Petersen's Muizenberg / Lakeside Ratepayers Association Newsletter) . As far as the policing of the Zandvlei braai area goes, last year we tried to get visitor controllers through the Ward Allocation which was given to the Parks dept. These would be sourced through CTEET (Cape Town Environmental Education Trust also known as the Nature Care Fund) and Leon Swartz was tasked with putting through the order. The motivation was written and sent through but it was rejected due to using the word "security" so we had to change it. Mark Ogilvee who heads up these things in the Trust did this for us and resubmitted it in time for the Easter holiday season. The procurement dept has been sitting with it and although we have been badgering Parks and the Procurement dept, it was not sorted out in time for the holiday season. Sigh.

We have been allocated some more money for next season from the Ward Allocation and hopefully we can put pressure on the procurement dept for this to be moved through swiftly.

Two people were caught and have been in court for indecent exposure, trespassing and malicious damage to property in the Nature Reserve. The female was given bail, the male was denied bale and was sentenced one month in jail.

We have also had to officially warn two people for cast netting at Zandvlei (one of whom is a Fisheries officer and wanted to challenge the bylaw) as well as investigating a report of people fishing on the waters of the vlei at night with lights which is an illegal hunting method.

In the past 6 months we have been increasing our presence on Muizenberg beaches and doing regular permit inspections. We have found many people poaching blood worm and sand prawn (they run the minute they see us so apprehension is difficult). Unfortunately we have only been able to get written warnings issued to two people and this had to be done by South African National Parks marine rangers as we lack the jurisdiction to issue fines for National Legislation. The law enforcement officers are also in this boat. We are in the process of being sent on EMI training which will give us this jurisdiction and then we will see.

Last week Thursday I and a fellow Peace Officer were summoned to court to testify as witnesses in an Arum Lily Poaching case where I found and photographed and apprehended a known Arum Lily poacher who we have been catching poaching these plants on our protection land for two years running. This is the first time that the Police were willing to let it go to court. The suspect has finally decided that it is easier to buy the flowers legally and sell them legally so it looks like we have finally gotten through to him.

Kind Regards,
Cassy.