Jay_B Posted May 18, 2015 Posted May 18, 2015 Give him a klap if you see him... did you at least do it at the end of of your ride? No thank goodness was about halfway at that point... still had to go up Peggy Vera next to the Klipriviersberg Reserve, then back around and up Butchers and then finally back home to Henley on Klip via Walkerville
Eulali Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 Phoned yesterday, still closed. Any idea of when it will open again?
NotSoBigBen Posted May 21, 2015 Posted May 21, 2015 'The person to ask why the Reserve is still closed is the Director of Conservation at GDARD: eleanor.mcgregor@gauteng.gov.za 011 240 2505 079 889 5551. Perhaps she has an explanation for this unacceptable state of affairs.'
scubes Posted May 22, 2015 Posted May 22, 2015 I emailed Eleanor and she said: Mr Sibusiso Thusi is the Head of Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve and satellite Nature Reserves and as such, the engagement of relevant stakeholders / interested and affected parties falls within his management responsibility. In future, please contact him directly for enquiries pertaining to Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve and satellite Nature Reserves (Alice Glockner Butterfly Sanctuary and Marievale Bird Sanctuary) at: sibusiso.thusi@gauteng.gov.za OR 011-4396300 OR 082 641 3556 OR 083 672 5810. I would however like to take this corresponding opportunity to share that after months of closure at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, the 40 year old Southern Water Line has been repaired in the area that ceased in January 2015 and resulted in the latest closure of the Nature Reserve. This means that there is currently water running / supply at Suikerbosrand. As it is currently the fire season, the main focus of the Department is on fire preparation activities and containing fires that occur on the property. This requires a reliable and steady water supply. Although the repaired water line may carry good news, the Department is compelled, given the history of the waterline, to be cautious. This is because the old and weak +40 year old Southern Water Line tears, bursts and collapses easily under pressure and the Department has experienced this time and again. Processes are currently underway for the necessary systems and tools to be put in place at the reserve, that include complimentary water supply in support of the repaired but fragile Southern Water Line. Given this, identified sections of the reserve such as the self-guided game drive route, hiking trail and picnic site will be opened on a date that will be communicated. It must however be noted that these are temporary measures, as long term solutions are being worked on.
Bianca van Wyk Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 Rumour has it that SBR will be re-opened on Friday 1 May . Rumour was wrong! Called today, they are still closed.
Fat Boab Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 This FB group seems to have their finger on the pulse...so far anyway. https://www.facebook.com/suikerbosrand.friends
Blokman Posted June 5, 2015 Posted June 5, 2015 I'm not a spelling Nazi, but this thread title has hurt me from day one.Edit: Now I'm not sure of my grammar.
Blokman Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Article in Saturday Star says it's reopening on 16 June.
ScottCM Posted June 8, 2015 Posted June 8, 2015 Article in Saturday Star says it's reopening on 16 June. At long last Suikerbosrand will re-openAFTER almost five months of closure due to a burst waterpipe, Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve will be reopening to the public on June 16.The 134km reserve to the south of Joburg falls under the auspices of the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development.Department head of communications Roleta Lebelo said the reserve would open again for hikers, cyclists and picnickers from mid-June. She said the museum would also reopen and that they had chosen June 16, Youth Day, as it is a public holiday.“We thought it would be a good day as people can spend the day at the reserve doing what they love doing.”One of Gauteng’s bestloved nature reserves, Suikerbos was closed to the public on January 26 when a burst waterline caused a water cut.According to Sibusiso Thusi, deputy director, the waterline was repaired and functioning at the end of April but the department said the gates would remain shut because of the imminent fire threat during winter.Regular visitors believe this was just another excuse and have been growing increasingly frustrated. Doug Cattin said they had felt a sense of hopelessness. He was told after the water problem had been resolved that the department had not procured the protective clothing needed for fire-fighting.A visit to Suikerbosrand revealed that 29 employees of Working on Fire (WOF) have been in place for a number of weeks. Kgomotso Moagi, ground operations manager for the past three years, said the team’s members were experienced and “always ready”, but by May additional contract firefighters should have been located on site.The same morning, his team had responded to a small flare-up on the souther n side and, in addition, were tasked by the nature reserve’s conservation team to help herd a hartebeest back into the fenced reserve.WOF is a non-profit organisation that has 200 teams around the country to provide a presence, aiding parks and agricultural departments to contain fires.It is an initiative of the Department of Environmental Affairs and also serves as a job creation scheme.Department of Agricultural and Rural Development contract firefighters were employed this week after delays in “ensuring all necessary systems were in place”. Currently there is a team of about 60 fireworkers on duty.Talfryn Harris, project manager at WOF, said they were prepared for the season. “Beaters and back-pack sprayers are ready and loaded on the vehicle, ready for a call-out. The reserve’s firefighting bakkie and tractors are fuelled and functional and the burning of fire breaks is well under way.”She added that the relationship between the WOF team and the contractors was complicated.Moagi explained that though the department contractors “lit the matches”, WOF workers advised them and assisted in the management of firebreaks – an important part of fire prevention. Moagi said there was a runaway fire in August when the contractors, against the advice of WOF, attempted to burn a firebreak on a particularly windy day.Lebelo said the department’s mandate was primarily to ensure the protection of the nature reserve and then only to provide an ecotourism destination.The Department of Public Works is in the process of laying a northern waterline as the existing “southern line” remains vulnerable and susceptible to further tearing.Lebelo said certain areas of the reserve, including overnight huts, would remain inaccessible to guard against further damage.Cattin and Alex Elshove have been engaging with the department to resolve issues and say they are just as frustrated by the slow progress of the upgrades on the huts.They have offered to assist authorities with the repairs and undertaken fundraising for the equipment and fittings required. Elshove said the damage was the work of an employee of Suikerbosrand.Margaret Bennett, who runs the Friends of Suikerbos, believes authorities have not managed the situation properly. “A complete and honest apology by the department for the delays and money gone astray since 2008 would be a good start, and then a solemn undertaking that this would not be allowed to happen again.“When they do start to come again, visitors should be given that apology in writing as they get to the gate.”
Uni Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Was on 702 this morning. Apparently of the 9.1m budget allocated to upgrade water system only 2.2 was used. Also said only some parts will be open from the 16th and that there's no intention whatsoever to close the place down.
ChUkKy Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Was on 702 this morning. Apparently of the 9.1m budget allocated to upgrade water system only 2.2 was used. Also said only some parts will be open from the 16th and that there's no intention whatsoever to close the place down. 6.9m goes to the minister and cronies
ScottCM Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 FYI - All entry fees that are paid at the gates do NOT go to the reserve or the running there of. It ALL goes directly to the municipality.
Spinnekop Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Was on 702 this morning. Apparently of the 9.1m budget allocated to upgrade water system only 2.2 was used. Also said only some parts will be open from the 16th and that there's no intention whatsoever to close the place down.Does that mean we wont be able to cycle there coming Tuesday?....... Wonder if it is worth it shooting through........
CleatsnCleavage Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Oh Please say its open again!! I would so love to be able to train there in winter. Its blummin hot in summer but its just the best safest place in terms of car traffic
arabsandals Posted June 9, 2015 Posted June 9, 2015 Are they ever going to open up the trails and huts? That is the real tragedy here. If the trails remain closed, I will be very sad. (sniff)
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