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This Reserve is a national asset and tourism attraction and Stellenbosch town's most beautiful natural asset....fynbos and renosterveld, fauna and flore... 360-degree view over the town and surrounding mountains to the sea......illegal pig farms and schacks in the reserve...Illegal hunting with packs of dogs has largely wiped out the antelope and other fauna recently.... Human waste pollutes the Eerste river and irragtion water....use as a field toilet.... passage for criminals.... cut holes in the fence at night....RESERVE IS NOT SAFE TO VISIT! Hunting dogs are used to attack and rob people in the reserve as well as in the adjoining neighborhood.

Video link of dogs hunting animals in the reserve: : https://youtube.com/shorts/bOpKYHqXfcw?feature=share

Please read our petition below (in English and Afrikaans) and support us in saving this nature reserve.

Problem: Papegaaiberg nature reserve is being destroyed by illegal squatters and not safe any person to visit!                                                              12-09-2023

1.      The Papegaaiberg Nature Reserve 

The Reserve is Stellenbosch town's most beautiful natural asset. It covers 317 ha of fynbos and renosterveld, various types of fauna and an unobstructed 360-degree view over the town and surrounding mountains to the sea.

The Reserve is a proclaimed national asset and must be preserved and secured within prescription. Residents regard its neglect in every way and increasingly as an indictment against the Municipality.

The Reserve can be a great and usable asset for residents and an enormous tourist attraction. The approved Adam Tas Corridor plan recognises it as such (LSDF, pp 51-57, 74, 103-106). Most residents in Onder-Papegaaiberg want to cooperate with the Municipality to unlock this value.

Aspects that residents now experience as matters of concern but which could be turned around are:

1.1.         The Reserve is unsafe and is therefore not used by the residents of Stellenbosch. Walkers, cyclists, children, school or sports associations cannot use the Reserve, and taxpayers get no benefit from the Reserve.

1.2.        Illegal hunting with packs of dogs has largely wiped out the antelope and other fauna recently.

1.3.         There are four vehicle entrances to the Reserve, it is only partly fenced, and the electric fence is out of order. Among other things, people regularly dump construction debris in the Reserve.

1.4.        Human waste pollutes the groundwater as an illegal informal settlement currently uses part of the Reserve as a field toilet. Thus, the Plankenbrug River, which flows into the Eerste River, contributes to fruit farmers' irrigation water pollution, with economic losses.

1.5.        At night, the Reserve is a passage to Onder-Papegaaiberg for criminals. In the last three months, residents reported 28 crimes. Many incidents, such as frequent car break-ins, are generally not reported by victims.

1.6.        A large segment of the fence along Bokmakierie street was removed. Transgressors cut holes in the fence at night to gain access to the neighbourhood and it has to be repaired by residents. The electric wires on the fence were never activated.

2.      Security cameras: 

There are at present no functional security cameras in the neighbourhood and lower entrance of the reserve to assist with crime prevention.

2.1   The cameras at the neighbourhood entrance in Oude Libertas street have long been nonfunctional, as have the cameras in the green strip along Loerie street. The Municipality has already budgeted for the cameras but has not yet implemented the decision.

2.2   Apart from 28 crimes in the past three months, in February this year a resident was stabbed 24 times in an attack.

Requests and proposals

On behalf of most of the residents, we request a discussion with the Municipality on security risks and the deterioration of the Reserve.

We believe we have sensible proposals that will benefit the whole town. Our recommendations can also lead to a meaningful saving on the R700 000 that the Municipality currently spends on the Red Ants Security Company every month.

3        Reserve

3.1    Close road entrances to the Reserve. Keep only two gated entrances for emergency vehicles and services and lock the gates.

3.2   Create three controlled pedestrian entrances to fit in with the planned Adam Tas corridor, for example, at the cemetery, Striker Meat and Bergkelder. The entrances must be manned during the day and locked between 20h00 and 06h00.

3.3    Security guards must be appointed to patrol the entire fence at all times.

3.4   Repair the fence in Bokmakierie street immediately and clear the overgrown parts alongside it. Electrify the fence in Bokmakierie street.

The Municipality could use the savings on the contract with the Red Ants Security Company and the cost of clearing illegally dumped building rubble in the Reserve to secure the Plankenbrug industrial area and promote job creation.

4        Security cameras

The residents of Onder-Papegaaiberg are busy with the registration process for a Neighbourhood Watch. We will cooperate with the Municipality on implementation. Among other things, the Neighbourhood Watch will fundraise for further cameras.

In the meantime, we request that the Municipality install cameras at three vehicle entrances and monitor them, and allow approved security services also to monitor the cameras. The three entrances are:

4.1   Corner of Flamingo and Bokmakierie Streets

4.2   Corner of Tarentaal and Devon Valley Streets (at TFD)

4.3   New traffic circle in Devon Valley Street.

5          Feedback 

We request a written response from the mayor (within two weeks) by 27 September 2023 with a proposed date for a meeting to be held before 27 October 2023 with the petition committee.

The meeting must be attended by the mayor, the municipal manager and all the relevant directors for implementation dates to be determined.

Thank you.

Check a video view of the reserve here.

 

Onder-Papegaaiberg (Wyk 11) Versoekskrif en voorstelle / Requests

Aan: Die Burgemeester / Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit / Mayor

Van: Inwoners, Onder-Papegaaiberg.   

Probleem: Papegaaiberg natuurreservaat word verwoes deur onwettige plakkers en is nie veilig vir enige persone om te besoek nie!           12/09/2023

1.      Papegaaiberg Natuurreservaat 

Die reservaat is Stellenbosch dorp se mooiste natuurbate. Dit beslaan 317 ha van fynbos en renosterveld, verskeie soorte fauna en 'n onbelemmerde uitsig van 360-grade oor die dorp en omliggende berge tot by die see.

 Die reservaat is ‘n geproklameerde nasionale bate en moet binne  voorskrywing behou en beveilig word. Inwoners beskou verwaarlosing daarvan allerweë en toenemend as ʼn aanklag teen die Munisipaliteit.

 Die reservaat kan ‘n groot en benutbare bate vir inwoners wees en ‘n enorme trekpunt vir toeriste. Dit word ook só erken in die goedgekeurde plan vir die Adam Tas Korridor  (LSDF, pp 51-57, 74, 103-106). Die groot meederheid van inwoners in Onder-Papegaaiberg wil met die Munisipaliteit saamwerk om dié waarde te ontsluit. 

Aspekte wat nou as kwelpunte ervaar word, maar omgekeer kan word, is:

1.1.         Die reservaat is nie veilig nie en word daarom nie deur die inwoners van Stellenbosch benut nie. Stappers, fietsryers, kinders, skole- of sportverenigings kan die reservaat nie gebruik nie, en belastingbetalers kry geen voordeel uit die reservaat nie.

1.2.        Onwettige jagtogte met troppe honde het in die onlangse verlede wildsbokkies en ander fauna grootliks uitgewis.

1.3.         Daar is vier voertuigingange na die reservaat, net gedeeltes van die reservaat is omhein en die elektriese heining is buite werking. Onder meer stort mense gereeld bourommel in die reservaat.

1.4.        Menslike afval besoedel die grondwater waar ‘n onwettige informele nedersetting tans ‘n gedeelte van die reservaat as veldtoilet gebruik. Só dra die Plankenbrugrivier, wat in die Eersterivier uitmond, by tot die besoedeling van vrugteboere se besproeiingswater, met ekonomiese verliese.

1.5.        Snags is die reservaat vir misdadigers ‘n deurgang na Onder-Papegaaiberg. In die afgelope drie maande is 28 misdade aangemeld. Baie insidente, soos gereelde inbrake in motors, word meestal nie deur slagoffers aangemeld nie.

1.6.        ‘n Groot segment van die heining langs Bokmakieriestraat is verwyder. Daar word snags gate in die bestaande heining geknip om toegang tot die woonbuurt te verkry en inwoners moet self die heining herstel. Die elektriese drade bo-op die heining is nooit aktiveer nie. 

2.      Sekuriteitskameras 

Daar is tans geen werkende veiligheidskameras in die buurt en laer gedeelte van reservaat om met misdaadvoorkoming te help nie.

2.1.        Die kameras by die buurtingang in Oude Libertasstraat is lankal buite werking, en so ook die kameras in die groen strook langs Loeriestraat. Die Munisipaliteit het al vir die kameras begroot, maar die besluit nog nie uitgevoer nie.

2.2.        Afgesien van 28 misdade die afgelope 3 maande, is ‘n inwoner in Februarie vanjaar in ‘n aanval 24 keer met ‘n mes gesteek.

Versoeke en voorstelle

Ons versoek namens die meerderheid van inwoners ‘n gesprek met die Munisipaliteit om veiligheidsrisiko’s en die agteruitgang van die reservaat  te bespreek.

Ons glo ons het sinvolle voorstelle wat tot voordeel van die hele dorp is. Ons voorstelle kan ook lei tot ‘n sinvolle besparing op die R700 000 wat die Munisipaliteit nou elke maand uitgee op die Red Ants Security Company.

3.      Reservaat 

3.1.         Sluit padingange na die Reservaat. Behou net twee ingange vir noodvoertuie en dienste, en sluit die hekke.

3.2.        Skep drie beheerde voetgangeringange om in te pas by die beplande Adam Tas korridor, byvoorbeeld by die begraafplaas, Striker Meat en Bergkelder. Die ingange moet bedags beman word en tussen 20h00 en 06h00 gesluit word. Daar moet geen direkte toegang na die reservaat toegelaat word uit die omliggende woonbuurte nie.

3.3.         Sekuriteitswagte moet aangestel word om deurentyd die totale heining te patrolleer.

3.4.        Herstel die heining in Bokmakieriestraat onmiddelik en ontbos die oorgroeide dele daarlangs. Elektrifiseer ook die heining in Bokmakieriestraat.. 

Besparing op die kontrak met die Red Ants Security Company, tesame met besparing op die opruiming van bourommel in die reservaat, kan deur die munisipaliteit gebruik word om ook die Plankenbrug industriële gebied te beveilig en werkskepping te bevorder.

4.      Sekuriteitskameras

Die inwoners van Onder-Papegaaiberg is besig met die registrasieproses vir ‘n Buurtwag. Ons vertrou om ook hiermee met die Munisipaliteit saam te werk. Die Buurtwag wil onder meer fondsinsameling doen vir verdere kameras.

Intussen versoek ons dat die Munisipaliteit kameras installeer by drie voertuigingange en dit moniteer, met toestemming dat die goedgekeurde sekuriteitsdienste ook die kameras aanvullend kan moniteer. Die drie ingange is:

4.2.        Hoek van Flamingo- en Bokmakieriestraat

4.3.        Hoek van Tarentaal- en Devon Valleistraat (by TFD)

4.4.        Nuwe sirkel in Devon Valleistraat.

5.       Terugvoer

Ons versoek dat die burgemeester teen 27 September 2023 (dws binne twee weke na ontvangs van die petisie) skriftelik ‘n datum sal voorsien vir ‘n vergadering voor 27 Oktober 2023 met die Versoekskrif-komitee.

Die vergadering moet bygewoon word deur die Burgemeester, Munisipale Bestuurder asook al die relevante direkteure en sperdatums moet dan gestel word vir implementering.