Residents petition to open up Krantzkloof Nature Reserve

THE Kloof Conservancy, a local non-profit organisation, has thrown its weight behind a privately initiated petition to have Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife increase access to Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.

Visitors to the reserve can no longer gain access to the site via the Uve Road entrance.

ALSO READ: Krantzkloof shuts gates to visitors

Forest Hills and Waterfall residents can only gain access to the reserve at Nkutu on weekends and visitors can no longer enter at the view site on Bridle Road.

In a previous statement to the Highway Mail, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s head of corporate affairs, Musa Mntambo, said there were only two official access points to the reserve.

He noted that its management gates, such as the one along Uve Road in Kloof, were being used by residents to gain access to the reserve illegally.

The Kloof Conservancy’s chairman, Paolo Candotti, said, “No explanation is offered as to why access points, which the local community have used for more than 70 years, are now “illegal” and why bona fide residents and visitors using those entrances are now denied access and will presumably be treated as trespassers. No explanation has been offered as to why the most stunning viewpoint in the entire Durban area is now closed to the public.”

ALSO READ: Krantzkloof Nature Reserve blocks illegal entrants

“No explanation is offered as to why people with limited mobility, who could previously access and have views of Kloof Gorge at the main View site, or via the Uve Road entrance, are now no longer able to enjoy access to Kloof Gorge at all.”

The petition, which has been signed by more than 1 500 people at the time of going to print, also has numerous comments from residents that highlight their passion and love for the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.

“With no consultation or explanation, the convenient community access points, which have been used on an ongoing basis, is the equivalent of poking a finger in the eye of the community and organisations that have provided significant support to the reserve over many years,” said Candotti.

He said that once the problems were understood, and the reserve’s management was willing to accept assistance from the community in solving these problems, the challenges could be easily resolved.

“There needs to be a change in the reserve management’s attitude before this is likely to happen. If we continue to see the authoritarian approach, that ignores the basics of good co-operation with the communities that surround the reserve, we don’t see much chance of an amicable solution,” said Candotti. “We urge Ezemvelo to listen to the message from the petition and to act accordingly.”

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife did not respond to questions by the time of going to print.

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