-
Youth day frolicking
While we frollicking out and about (some of us in the rain) on Youth Day yesterday, the good people of Maqz (pronounced Mack’s) Empire – a municipal contractor – were clearing out the litter nets in the lower Sand River canal.
-
Photo competition 2025
Calling all budding, pro’s, amateurs, wannabee photographers. Time to give it your best shot!
We’re looking for your best three takes in and around #Zandvlei Estuary. All for a good cause and some awesome prizes for adults and juniors!
Check out the details at https://zandvleitrust.org.za/give-it-your-best-shot/, and email your best three shots to photos@zandvleitrust.org.za before 31 October 2025.
-
Zandvlei Trust Update
Common waxbill. Paul Funston photo featured in 2025 calendar Chairperson’s chirp and croak
For most of us the first proper winter rains (which are falling as I write this) are a welcome relief for gardens and fynbos alike after the desiccating later summer months. And did I mention fires?
But for a few others they are all about pollution: more specifically the repugnant piles of solid matter that flows down the vlei’s feeder streams (primarily the Westlake, Keisers, Langvlei and Sand), bringing us all the foul effluent of Westlake informal settlement, Steenberg, Retreat and a few other pollution hot spots.
I’ve said it before (and I probably will again), that were it not for the system of litter nets we help to manage, we’d be up to the gunwales in waste. But the nets are not bullet – nor log, washing machine, nor engine block, nor builder’s rubble– proof. So it was that last year we set about designing, and then having manufactured a set of two metal litter grates.
The grates were duly delivered late last year, then began the hop-skip-and jump that was getting everyone concerned agreeing about the how, where and when of installing them (call it the red tape worm of civic matters). They were designed to fit into the lower Sand River canal, without any permanent fixings. The Day of Installation finally dawned. Excitement was palpable among the cormorants, egrets and kingfishers that use the nets as feeding perches.
In went grate one, four people in the water and four on the bank: each grate weighing in north of 200-kg. Much smiling and applauding. Then along came grate No. 2 on the back of the Nature Reserve truck. It was off-loaded, dragged to the canal edge … but lo, and oh no, it had been made the wrong way around. To explain …..
The grates were designed to be staggered about 10-m apart, and to fit against the sides of the canal, both facing upstream at 30° to act like catcher’s arms. Unfortunately, it became clear grate No. 2 also had the 30° – but facing downstream! The frowns and deplauding (I just made that one up) were palpable. The birds flew off in perturbation (that’s one’s legit).
So it was back to the drawing board and the manufacturer in Retreat. Maybe before the next rains, the river gods and serpents willing.
Be cool, stay dry, and please pick up some litter on your regular rounds about the vlei …. which reminds me. We are planning a “each one pick up some” litter campaign in the coming months. Watch out for the signs and remember to take a bag to pick up some.
Yours in waders
David B
PS: The “first rains” of Tuesday 9th April brought a $#!^ load of solid pollution down the Langvlei-Sand River canal. See below for some of what would have spilled into the vlei and, ultimately, False Bay, if not for “our” nets. However, the load and flow were so heavy an emergency team had to be scrambled in order to save the nets. “We shall fight them on the rivers, we shall fight them on the vleis and beaches…”
The chirping chairperson and the Trust’s steadfast litter and gardening man-at-arms, William Mauzi, installing Litter Grate #1. Photo by Kyran Wright. 
Some of what would have spilled into the vlei and, ultimately, False Bay, if not for “our” nets. Nature Notes by Peter KrugerThe jewel of Zandvlei: Psoralea glaucina
As we know, Cape Town is located in the Fynbos Biome, which is famous for its biodiversity and has over 3 000 plant species – 318 of which are on the Red Data Threatened List.
Now have you ever walked around the Zandvlei Estuary and noticed tiny pea-like flowers, deep purple in the centre and paler around the fringe at your feet? They are usually found in clumps amongst the grass.
If you look closer you will find that the leaves of this plant are trifoliate – which means that they have three leaflets joined at the base. This plant is Psoralea glaucina, a critically endangered plant, growing nowhere else in the world except in the Muizenberg/Capricorn area. Its survival is severely threatened by the increased growth of our housing developments.
In the 1950s it was said to be “locally plentiful in the low scrub near the Muizenberg Cemetery”. The housing complex, Soralia Park, behind the Capricorn Pick ‘n Pay is named after this small plant. So look out for it, and appreciate it while you can – that is if you can find it! Your grandchildren may never have that privilege!
If you want to do your share for the biodiversity of this area this plant is normally available from the FynbosLIFE Nursery on Promenade Road in Muizenberg.Psoralea Glaucina Looking Back by Damian Gibbs
Winters and water
Recent years have brought unprecedented rainfall to Cape Town and surrounding areas. Whatever your views on climate change, we can all agree that the intense rains and winds have real consequences for Zandvlei and those of us who call this area home.
In July 2009, Cape Town airport’s rain gauge recorded a 50-year high for rainfall in just 12 hours. The result? Significant flooding in parts of Marina da Gama, as documented in Alice Ashwell’s photo collection from that time.
With each winter’s first heavy downpour, Zandvlei’s water quality takes a predictable dip. This happens because rain flushes all the “nutrients” (pollutants) from the tributaries into Zandvlei.
While the nets in the canals catch much of the visible debris, many invisible contaminants still make their way into our waterway. The good news is that Zandvlei typically recovers to acceptable water quality levels within a few weeks as contaminated water flows out to sea.
The problem doesn’t simply disappear, though. It moves “downstream” where beachgoers and surfers at Muizenberg sometimes report infections after being in the water.
Not all contaminants flow out to sea. Some settle into the silt at the bottom of Zandvlei, where they accumulate over time. The water current isn’t strong enough to naturally clear this buildup, and considering Zandvlei hasn’t been dredged in approximately 50 years, there’s likely quite a collection down there!
Zandvlei and Muizenberg beach have shown remarkable resilience despite these challenges. But how much longer can Zandvlei maintain this resilience without intervention?
As an environmental organisation, recreational users and residents who value this local natural resource, perhaps it’s time to see how we can take steps to protect Zandvlei for future generations. If you have ideas, energy, enthusiasm, or just care, get in touch info@zandvleitrust.org.za or visit www.zandvelitrust.org.za.
Marina da Gama flooded in July 2009, as documented by Alice Ashwell. People power revamps play parkNaomi Porter, a concerned resident of Marine Estate, has written to us about an inspiring project :
“In September 2024, Zandvlei Play Park was a neglected space filled with broken play equipment, litter and overgrown gardens. The children trief to play, but the rusty slide scraped against their skin and the swings were no longer useable. A small community group came together to brainstorm – how could we make this park better? While we hade the enthusiasm and people power, we lacked the inside knowledge, connections, finances and administrative experience required to make any changes.
“It was at this point that a connection was made with Zandvlei Trust who stepped in to support the project, providing the necessary administrative oversight, funding and connection to other stakeholders which was crucial for the project to succeed.We dreamed as a community, compiled a detailed project plan for Zandvlei Trust to approve and then we got to work.
“Over the last few months, our park has been transformed. All of the play equipment has been either been replaced or repaired and repainted, the gardens have had some much-needed attention, we’ve removed a lot of litter, and we’ve implemented initiatives to support dog-walkers to pick up after their dogs.
“The park is now a happy place for children to play, for parents and neighbours to chat and for people to sit and take in the beauty of the vlei and the mountains. On behalf of the project team and the broader community, we are so thankful to Zandvlei Trust for their generous support.”
This has been a wonderful example of how Zandvlei Trust can make a difference in the community in just four months, helping to identify opportunities and then providing the organisational capacity to make things happen in consultation with the City.
As a member of Zandvlei Trust, is there something you would like to do to improve or transform the Vlei and the area surrounding it? Have you wondered how to make it happen? The above is an example of what can be achieved. Make your membership work for you by contacting secretary@zandvleitrust.org.za and giving the committee a short synopsis of what you would like to achieve with our help. We can make it happen if the project is right, the funds are available and we can persuade the City. Let’s try.
Group effort to improve The Row play park Take part in City Nature ChallengeFree access to nature reserves this weekend
Cape Town residents and visitors are invited to join people from more than 2 000 cities worldwide to participate in this year’s City Nature Challenge by capturing photos of any plants or animals on their smart phones or cameras from Friday 25 April 2025 to Monday 28 April 2025.
Observations should be uploaded on the iNaturalist app.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Bring the Globe Together for Biodiversity’. Access to the City’s nature reserves will be free for those taking part in the challenge.
For more information visit• https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2025-city-of-cape-town, or• https://www.facebook.com/iNatureZA [Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town]
Shaggy stargrass (Hipoxis villosa) Save the AGM date: 22 May
Members and interested persons are invited to the AGM of the Zandvlei Trust to be held on Thursday, 22 May 2025, at 18:00 for 18:30 at The Lookout, 57 Promenade Road, Lakeside (the old bowling club).
Our speaker, Timm Hoffman, is emeritus professor in biological sciences and former Leslie Hill chair of plant conservation at the University of Cape Town. His research interests lie in long-term environmental change in southern Africa in response to land use and climate change. With photographs, he will show how South Africa’s vegetation has changed over the last 100 years. He will include historical photo comparisons from the Cape Peninsula as well as from Zandvlei, Lakeside and Muizenberg.
Light refreshments will be served.Enquiries: info@zandvleitrust.org.za -
Zandvlei Trust Spring Talks – 2024 Program
12 Sep 2024
Out of the blue: Seal rabies, results and recommendations from the road to discovery
Dr Tess Gridley, Founding Director, Operations Manager and Principal Scientist for Sea Search
What is causing the increased abnormal aggression in the Cape Fur Seal population? Cape Fur Seals are highly sociable, long-lived and wide-ranging animals. This talk will discuss what normal seal aggression looks like, and whether domoic acid or rabies are potential causes for the increased abnormal aggressive behaviour.
19 Sep 2024
Wildfires and the VWS
Andrea Schnetler-Niddrie, Conservation Coordinator at Cape Leopard Trust, Planning Officer at Volunteer Wildfire Services
Wildfires are an integral and important part of the Fynbos Biome, so why is suppression so often required? This talk will focus on wildfires in the context of fynbos ecosystems and the wildland-urban interface, from the perspective of the work of the Volunteer Wildfire Services.
26 Sep 2024
Cape clawless otters – oceans to the rescue as our freshwater systems degrade.
Professor Justin O’Riain, Director of the Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa.
Despite the heroic efforts of many friend groups, NGOs and the City of Cape Town our rivers remain overwhelmed by pollution, excessive abstraction and exotic invasive species. Otters as the de facto apex predator of our ‘freshwater’ systems which include wetlands and estuaries like Zandvlei, have been impacted by these and other threats, all of which were exacerbated during the ‘day zero’ calamity and by progressively longer periods of load-shedding. Lockdown granted otters and many other wildlife species a reprieve from people, their pets and vehicles but as we returned to our daily routines, so we witnessed a spike in both positive and negative interactions between otters and people. Using data collected by my ex-PhD student Dr Nicola Okes and honours student Amelia Mills I will reveal how the ocean may have allowed this species to persist along our urban edge and how green initiatives which may attract otters may also expose them to the perils of urban living in what we refer to as ‘ecological traps’.
-
Zandvlei Trust with Orms and Pam Golding Properties 2024 Photo Competition
Do you love photography and capturing the beauty of the Zandvlei Area and its surrounds?
If so, we have a competition for you: the Zandvlei Trust 2024 Calendar Competition is now open.
First prize 1 x R2000 online printing voucher at ORMS
Second prize 1 x R1000 online printing voucher at ORMS
Third prize 1 x R500 online printing voucher at ORMS
Junior prize of R1000 (for entrants 16 and under)
Check out https://zandvleitrust.org.za/zandvleitrust202/give-it-your-best-shot/ for all the details.
-
Zandvlei Trust Spring Talks – Natural Solutions to Water Quality Issues in Zandvlei
Exploring nature-based solutions to human-induced problems affecting Zandvlei Estuary.
Assoc. Prof. Deena Pillay and MSc students Kelly Gilmour and Olivia Murgatroyd (30th Sept)
-
Zandvlei Trust Spring Talks – Fynbos and Fire
Our natural landscape is a fire landscape – why does it burn, how do plants and animals cope, should we live in a fire prone landscape?
Dalton Gibbs
