Friends of Kloofendal celebrates the success of another year
Steve Spottiswoode, chairperson of FroK started the AGM by reading FRoK's vision.
Friends of Kloofendal (FroK) held their annual general meeting (AGM) on 9 November at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve. Attendees were also treated to a presentation by Tony de Castro.
The presentation, ‘Biodiversity and Ecology of the Roodekrans Ridge – a pictorial introduction’, showed the biodiversity of the ridge, as well as images from camera traps of the many mammals still frequenting the area, despite their habitat having been disturbed by people riding quad bikes, motorbikes, or by snares. Security rangers have been employed and with Tony and other volunteers’ guidance they are doing a great job at stopping illegal activities in the area.
Steve Spottiswoode, chairperson of FroK started the AGM by reading FRoK’s vision before discussing some of the highlights of the year, which included the organisation celebrating its third full year of almost exclusive use of the Ecological Centre.
He added that after a site visit early in October regarding the request to have the Reserve protected by law by having it declared a provincial reserve, Bishop Ngobeli, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) conservation manager, announced that the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and JCPZ have submitted an application to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) to have Kloofendal Nature Reserve declared a Proclaimed Nature Reserve in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003. All stakeholders will be notified of the outcome and will also have the opportunity to comment on or object to the proclamation. The process is led by GDARD.
“Two Tourism interns from Westcol TVET College, Keneilwe Mosime and Simphiwe Mbata joined us in July this year to learn and assist us with promotion, administration duties and taking groups on basic introductory walks through the reserve. They will also help presenting the displays here. They have the use of a cellphone, router and a small laptop, courtesy of FroK. We have several sets of data on schools in Johannesburg and details of those who have come here on the FroK programme. This is being put into a usable database to assist our planning and marketing,” Steve stated.
“Thank you to the 2018/ 19 committee and a couple of special people. The names of the new FroK committee members are Steve Spottiswoode, Owen Slabbert, Craig Ford, Karin Spottiswoode, Edna Murphy, Michael Ormond, Rod Kruger, Austin Daly, Craig Ford, and Ella and John Roberts. Portfolios still need to be confirmed once we have met,” Steve concluded.
