📢 Protect Paardevlei! Your Voice Matters – Submit Your Comment to the City of Cape Town
Thank you for supporting Friends of Paardevlei in ensuring this vital wetland ecosystem is permanently protected. The City of Cape Town is considering the sale of land at Paardevlei, and we need your help to make sure that the conservation area is large enough to be legally protected as a formally proclaimed nature reserve.
By submitting your comment, you can help prevent unnecessary development and ensure that Paardevlei is safeguarded for future generations.
Deadline: 17 February 2025
📩 How to Submit Your Comment
There are three methods of commenting, Online using their hosted form, email or in person. Please choose the method that suits you best.
Online Submission:
Email Submission:
Send your comment to: Affordable.Housing@capetown.gov.za
Subject line: “Objection to the Sale of Land at Paardevlei – Public Comment”
In-Person Submission:
Further details may be viewed by appointment only with Martin Witbooi:
21st Floor, Human Settlements, Civic Centre, 12 Hertzog Boulevard, Cape Town
Mondays during office hours
Need Assistance?
The City’s Public Participation Unit can assist those who cannot submit written comments. Contact:
Anathi Dywili – Tel: 021 400 9825
Email: LeanetteAnathi.Dywili@capetown.gov.za
📌 Key Points to Include in Your Comment
Your comment will carry more weight if you personalise it by sharing why Paardevlei is important to you. Below are key points to help structure your response.
1. The Conservation Area Must Be Large Enough to Be Formally Protected
• The only sustainable way to manage Paardevlei is through its legal proclamation as a nature reserve under the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch as has been proposed.
• The proposed 27-hectare buffer is too small to provide long-term protection. The City must ensure a sufficiently large conservation area that meets the requirements for formal nature reserve status.
• The wetland cannot survive without strong legal protections—anything less than a nature reserve will lead to further degradation over time.
• Seasonal wetlands are increasingly rare in Cape Town due to urban sprawl— expanding Paardevlei’s conservation area would reinforce the City’s commitment to Ramsar accreditation.
2. An Ecological Corridor to the Coast Is Essential
• The Paardevlei wetland must be connected to the coastline to maintain species movement, ecosystem resilience, and water quality.
• Without a sufficient protected corridor, the wetland will become isolated, which will threaten bird, fish, and amphibian populations that depend on coastal access.
• This corridor is a non-negotiable requirement for securing formal nature reserve status.
• Any developments must Implement wildlife-friendly infrastructure, such as underpasses and protected corridors, to maintain habitat connectivity and prevent issues such as the mass frog killings on the R44.
3. Protecting the Biodiversity of Paardevlei
• Paardevlei is home to over 218 bird species, including endangered species like the Maccoa Duck, Blue Crane, and Greater Flamingo.
• The wetland is also a critical breeding and migration site for amphibians, fish, and mammals that rely on connected habitats.
• The conservation area must be large enough to sustain these species and their movements— fragmentation will lead to ecosystem collapse.
4. Wetlands Prevent Flooding & Protect Water Resources
• Urban development near the wetland will cause stormwater runoff and pollution, threatening Paardevlei’s water quality.
• Wetlands such as Paardevlei offer important stormwater attenuation and flood alleviation services - which are key ecosystem services in a rapidly expanding Helderberg region.
5. Urban Development Must Be Redirected to Less Sensitive Areas
• The City is proposing mixed-use developments, including housing and commercial zones, on land surrounding Paardevlei
• While affordable housing is needed, this development should not come at the cost of an irreplaceable wetland.
• The City should redirect high-density development to other urban areas, while ensuring that Paardevlei is legally protected for conservation.
6. Developments Adjacent to the Vlei Must Contribute to Its Protection
• Any developments that benefit from Paardevlei’s natural beauty and lifestyle appeal should be obligated to contribute to its maintenance and protection.
• A conservation levy should be introduced for residential and commercial properties adjacent to the vlei to fund wetland restoration, management, and biodiversity conservation efforts.
• The City should integrate long-term funding for Paardevlei’s protection into development approvals to prevent the burden from falling solely on conservation groups and the public.
7. Preserving Paardevlei’s Iconic Views & Natural Ambience
Implement height restrictions on developments adjacent to Paardevlei
Ensure urban design integrates with the surrounding landscape, rather than overpowering it.
Maintain public access to the vlei’s scenic views.
8. The Only Sustainable Future for Paardevlei is Formal Nature Reserve Status
• The City must commit to legally declaring the wetland as a nature reserve, with adequate size and protection.
• A nature reserve will ensure proper management, prevent future encroachment, and protect biodiversity.
• The City should invest in eco-tourism, education, and conservation-based land use instead of commercial development.
✍️ Sample Comment Format
Feel free to copy, edit, and personalise the template below for your submission (you can put it into ChatGPT or similar AI tool and have it reworded as a copy-paste will become apparent to Mr Witbooi and will hold less weight:
Subject: Objection to the Sale of Land at Paardevlei – Public Comment
Dear Mr Witbooi,
I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed sale of land at Paardevlei (Erven 22055 & 22074) for development. While I acknowledge the City’s plan to designate the wetland as a conservation area, I urge you to ensure that the allocated area is large enough to meet the requirements for formal nature reserve status.
Currently, the 27-hectare buffer is insufficient to provide long-term protection. The wetland requires:
1. A sufficiently large conservation area that meets legal standards for formal and legal protection as a nature reserve.
2. An ecological corridor connecting Paardevlei to the coast, to allow for species movement and hydrological integrity.
3. A strict conservation management plan, ensuring long-term sustainability under the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch.
4. Mandatory conservation levies for adjacent developments, ensuring that those who benefit from Paardevlei’s natural beauty contribute to its long-term protection and maintenance.
Paardevlei is one of the last remaining natural spaces in Somerset West—it should be protected for future generations, not compromised by urban expansion. The only sustainable management solution is full nature reserve status.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information (optional)]
[Your Location (optional)]
📢 Every Comment Counts! Submit Yours Today!
💚 Thank you for standing up for Paardevlei’s future! The more individual objections we submit, the stronger our collective impact will be.
📩 Contact us for more info: friendsofpaardevlei@gmail.com
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🚨 Deadline: 17 February 2025 – Send Your Comment Now! 🚨
🌿🐦 Together, we can ensure Paardevlei is protected forever! 💧