Community members flocked to the Kloofendal Nature Reserve on 6 February to support and represent the needs of the reserve at the Proposed Kloofendal Infrastructure Upgrade meeting.
The Reserve has managed to raise R1 million to help meet its needs, and for the required upgrades. Friends of Kloofendal (FroK) called on all community members to be a representative of the Kloof and contribute to emphasising which upgrades are to be prioritised. More than 100 members from the community attended the meeting.
Four hours before the meeting the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) manager of protected areas indicated that no representative of the entity would attend the meeting. But, at the start of the meeting, three JCPZ members pitched up and discussed their proposed upgrades in the Reserve. Bernadette Eksteen, JCPZ’s representative and landscape architect started by pointing out the unique features of the Nature Reserve, and what the JCPZ is proposing to implement. The buildings they want put up in the Reserve were mentioned and the building plans were shown to the attendees.
Some of the proposed changes that JCPZ wants to implement, include a building at the entrance of the Reserve with a reception and visitor centre, manager’s office, information and education centre, toilets and a restaurant as well as a larger parking area. They also proposed that separate permanent structures for on-site accommodation should be build for JCPZ employees’ use. They stated that they are looking to enhance the activity in the amphitheatre space by providing playgrounds for children, picnic areas, and other activities such as an outside gym.
This proposal was followed by FroK’s representatives, who highlighted all the Kloof’s desperate needs, which included the rehabilitation of frequently recurring sewage leaks into the dams and steams.
FroK also proposed to improve security by replacing the damaged fence all around the reserve, to build a security guard hut at the Topaz gate entrance and in the parking lot, to repave the parking lot, improve wheelchair access, place a notice board at the amphitheatre entrance with clear, large notices showing public open spaces by-laws, to upgrade the present Ecological and Education Centre where necessary, upgrade the existing toilet facilities, and build a jungle gym. A roof is also needed for the gold mining stamp mill as well as a display on mining history in the goldmine shelter.
More invasive alien plant control measures need to be implemented. The issues of the lawn deteriorating due to the lack of lawn management by JCPZ, were also highlighted.
After both parties had made their proposals, the community and FroK rejected JCPZ’s proposal in its entirety, and the conclusion was that the R1 million had been spent on an unwanted proposal by JCPZ.
Further concerns and questions have been sent to the City of Johannesburg to be addressed.
