Jazz concert a success in Paulshof
Community members are welcomed to assist the Friends of Rietfontein community association with future fundraising and awareness ideas.
Community members were treated to afro soul and jazz music in Paulshof at a local nature reserve on September 4.
The Friends for Rietfontein community association was formed in 2012 by residents who were nature and wildlife lovers.
Member Kerry Mawson said the turnout for the event was excellent and R5 660 was raised on the day and was later donated to the band which performed that afternoon.
“Feedback from the community was that they have never seen the reserve that busy. The visibility of security both inside and outside the reserve also reassured people to just walk in and join the fun. This year we decided to re-invigorate our campaigns and from this turnout and requests, it seems there is a need for relaxing outdoor events.
“With the reserve on our doorstep, we embarked on a journey of creating awareness of this beautiful space and our need to maintain this treasure in its natural state. Awareness is created by having community events, like Christmas in July, Cancer Awareness, bird walks and music events that were very successful in the past,” she said.
Currently, the nature reserve needs a permanent garden maintenance service, the re-activation of the electric fence around the perimeter and solar security lights to mention a few.
Mawson said Friends of Rietfontein would work closely with the ward councillor and other municipal entities to protect the nature reserve.
“We want this reserve to be a sister nature reserve to that of Kloofendal Nature Reserve. However, we do not have the power to make the physical changes because any upgrades or physical changes are the responsibility of the City of Johannesburg to fulfil its mandate. Budgets are allocated by the City for the upkeep of the reserve.
“We work closely with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo [JCPZ], local businesses and residents, hence the great turnout. We do acknowledge that JCPZ has made some upgrades in recent times, but there is lots more to be done.”
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