The area at the Rietvlei section of Table Bay Nature Reserve where the City intends to carry out a controlled ecological burn to reduce fuel load and support the natural fynbos cycle.
Image: SUPPLIED
Residents living near the Rietvlei section of the Table Bay Nature Reserve have been notified of a planned ecological prescribed burn expected to take place between late March and early April, weather permitting.
The City of Cape Town has applied for the necessary burning permit from City Health’s Air Pollution Control Section and City Fire and Rescue Services.
As part of the process, nearby residents were informed of the application and allowed to submit comments.
According to the City, the comment period — originally set to close on Monday, March 8 — was later extended, with the final deadline confirmed for today, Thursday, March 12.
Officials say no public comments had been received at the time of writing.
The controlled burn will take place on a suitable weekday between late March and early April, depending on weather conditions, particularly wind speed and direction.
Professional firefighters from the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and partner agencies will oversee the burn at Erf 22994 in the Rietvlei section of the reserve.
Firefighting vehicles and equipment will be on site, with precautionary measures such as firebreaks and hydrant checks put in place beforehand, said a statement from the City.
Mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Eddie Andrews, said residents may notice smoke and operational noise, including vehicle activity and radio communication during the burn, but the City has indicated that no road closures are expected.
He said ecological burns were a key part of managing the city’s protected natural areas.
“Carefully managed ecological burns are necessary to maintain maximum species diversity and are vital to the overall preservation of natural vegetation,” he said.
He explained that fire plays an important role in rejuvenating fynbos vegetation and reducing the fuel load which can increase the risk of uncontrolled veld fires near residential areas.
The vegetation at the reserve consists mainly of Cape Flats Sand Fynbos and Cape Flats Dune Strandveld, ecosystems that depend on periodic fire to stimulate seed germination and prevent the local extinction of plant species, he said.
The planned burn will also help remove dense alien Kikuyu grass, after which the site will be rehabilitated through the planting of indigenous vegetation.
The City has also urged homeowners adjacent to the reserve to cut back vegetation along fence lines, as required by the National Veld and Forest Fire Act.
Community organisations have expressed support for the planned burn.
Karen Davis, spokesperson for the Greater Table View Action Forum (GTAF), said the group had shared the City’s notice on social media to inform residents.
“These burns are essential to prevent devastation in the event of an uncontrolled fire and are also necessary for the natural vegetation cycle,” she said.
“Being a controlled burn, there will be resources on hand to prevent any threat to homes, and while the smoke may be inconvenient, it is a necessary evil for the good of the reserve.”
Milnerton resident Caroline Marx, representing the environmental activist group ReThinkTheStink, said the reserve’s Protected Areas Advisory Committee — which includes several residents’ associations — had been informed of the burn as part of the reserve’s management programme.
“While the smoke may inconvenience residents, it is surely better than a runaway veld fire close to homes, which is a real risk if dead vegetation is not removed,” she said.
Residents who wish to submit comments or enquiries regarding the burn can contact the City’s Air Quality Management unit or the reserve management team.
Comments should be sent to Brownwyn.davidson@capetown.gov.za or call the department at 021 590 5200