NORTHERN CAPE REGION

c/o McGregor Museum, Egerton Road. Kimberley, 8301
PO Box 316, Kimberley, 8300, Northern Cape, South Africa
Tel +27 (053) 8392717 or 8392700
Fax +27 (053) 8421433
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Regional Chairperson: Suzanne Erasmus

Northern Cape Committee members 2008-2009

GRIQUA GNUS

PROJECTS & INITIATIVES

The following are some of the projects and initiatives in which WESSA: Northern Cape (WESSA: NC) is currently involved:

WESSA:NC World Environment Week EXPO

A large number organisations and government departments, who work in the environmental field, were invited to take part in the Expo, held in the Diamond Pavilion Shopping Mall in Kimberley from 1 to 6 June 2009. The theme was 'Caring for the Earth'. The aim of the Expo was to create awareness amongst the people of Kimberley of the important environmental work being done in our region, and especially the work being done by WESSA.

In the end there were eight participants: SA National Parks & the Honorary Rangers, Mattanu Private Game Reserve, De Beers Ecology Division, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Department of Tourism, Environment and Conservation, the Department of Education (Food Security), the McGregor Museum and WESSA:NC.
The Museum display, WESSA stall and, of course, the photographs were extremely popular, and our rough count totalled 816 visitors to our section of the Expo.

The photographic competition was equally successful - 204 entries were received from 47 photographers, of which 150 were put on display. The theme for the competition was 'Elements of Nature', and some magnificent entries were received. The judges, Mark Anderson, Paul Job, Louis Botha and Daniel Reddie had their work cut out to decide on the winners. Twelve prizes and 12 commended prizes (regional membership of WESSA!) were awarded.

A very big thank you to our sponsors: Kodak, Mattanu Private Game Reserve, De Beers, Diamond Pavilion Mall, Trappers, Flamingo Casino, Squires, Hi Fi Corporation, Kimberley Club, MovieZone, Romans Pizza, Checkers and Wimpy.
Thanks to the organisers, Carien Viljoen and June Louw of the Diamond Pavilion for all their help and to Anneke du Toit for coverage in the Noordkaap and Volksblad.
And thanks to all the WESSA members who were on duty at the Expo!

Winners of Photo competition

Commended Photos

Prize: WESSA Regional membership

WESSA:NC CONSERVATION NEWS

Even though the Northern Cape Region of WESSA has no staff, a group of active volunteers play a vital watchdog role to ensure the conservation of our unique environment.

Some of the projects we are involved in are:

Kamfers Dam

Background information: Kamfers Dam ( Download PDF here) 

Kamfers Dam Information Boards 

Two large and colourful boards were erected at Kamfers Dam to inform visitors to this wetland about its birds.

One board 'Kamfers Dam - Kimberley 's wetland gem' depicts the diversity of waterbirds that are found at Kamfers Dam and provides general information about the wetland. The other board 'Lesser Flamingos - Kimberley 's pink gems' provides details of the large, permanent population of Lesser Flamingos.

Acclaimed local wildlife artist, Maggie Newman, provide the beautiful illustrations for the boards and the layout was done by Luke Evans at SwiftPrint.

Kamfers Dam is home to the largest permanent population of Lesser Flamingos in southern Africa, numbering up to 80 000 individuals.  They are a splendid attraction and motorists travelling on the N12 are greeted with a beautiful pink display on Kimberley 's doorstep. The boards have been erected at the main flamingo viewing point just off the N12.

The production of the two Kamfers Dam boards was a collaborative project between the Department of Tourism, Environment & Conservation, the WESSA (Northern Cape Region) and the McGregor Museum . The project was funded by the Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust.

The second Lesser Flamingo breeding event was very successful, with about 12 000 chicks produced. Some of the chicks have lesions caused by avian pox and a study has been launched on factors influencing the flamingo breeding at Kamfers Dam.

Visit www.africam.com (click on 'Flamingo island' under Refresh cams) for a webcam view of the flamingo breeding island. A massive Grey-headed Gull breeding event is currently underway. This is the only currently known breeding site for these gulls in SA.

Although some repairs are in progress at the municipal sewerage works, the quality of the treated effluent pumped into Kamfers Dam remains unacceptably poor. The water level is also very high, threatening the breeding island and two railway lines. An EIA is underway to evaluate the expansion of this plant, to ensure that the issues of water quality and quantity will be addressed in the short to medium term.

WESSA:NC appealed against the positive RoD issued for the controversial Northgate urban development overlooking Kamfers Dam. The appeal was turned down, but no reasons were given. WESSA:NC, together with other members of the Save the Flamingo Association are considering further action. Visit www.savetheflamingo.co.za for details.

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Kathu Camel Thorn Forest:

Background information: Kathu Camel Thorn forest (Download the Document here...)

WESSA:NC continues to be inundated with mining related applications and although diamond mines appear to be affected by the current economic climate, iron and manganese mines are expanding in the Kathu area. The EIAs for the Khumani Mine (iron ore) and Ntsimbintle Mine (manganese), as well as further housing developments in and around Kathu, are being monitored.

WESSA:NC remains concerned about the effect of the expanding mining activities and rapid urban development on the unique Kathu Camel Thorn Forest. We have hope that the woodland will soon be protected under the National Forests Act.

A study has been launched into the reasons for the die-off of some camel thorn trees around Kathu by Dr Jolanda Roux of the University of Pretoria. Further work is needed, but a number of known and unknown fungi species have been found, which could be causing the trees to rot and die, and indications are that the trees are under stress.

Hopetown Irrigation scheme:

It is proposed to clear 800 ha of municipal land for irrigation from the Orange River, for emerging farmers. Unfortunately the deep sand found in that particular area supports a woodland with many protected trees, including grey camel thorn trees (Acacia haematoxylon). This is the most south-eastern distribution of these striking trees, which can clearly be seen from the N12. WESSA:NC is participating in the EIA, attended the public meeting on 1 April and is advising a group of concerned parties, who have applied to DWAF for emergency protection of the woodland.

Nuclear Power:

WESSA:NC is monitoring the EIAs for the Nuclear Project (It now seems that plants will be erected on 3 sites in the Western and Eastern Cape), the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) and the Pelindaba Fuels Plant, which is an integral part of the PBMR. Of concern is the fact that the waste products are to be sent to Vaalputs in the Northern Cape, which is not registered for medium or high level of nuclear waste.

WESSA:NC EDUCATION NEWS

WESSA:NC is a member of the local Environmental Education Forum, and has close links with a number of environmental educators. The following are some of the programmes and projects tackled in the region:

Eco-Schools:

Twenty schools are currently registered in the Northern Cape. Van Rensburg Primary School in Britstown received their Green Flag (the only one in the province) at a ceremony on 25 February. A regional Eco-Schools workshop was held at Kathu on 9 March. The workshop was arranged by Hannelie Mitchell, an Environmental Technician at Sishen Iron Ore Mine (a WESSA:NC Corporate member), and it was aimed at schools surrounding the mine. Part of the workshop focused on recycling projects in schools and it is hoped that at least some of these schools will join this programme. Jessica Maxwell (US Peace Corps) is continuing her work with the three schools in Galeshewe, whose Eco-Schools membership was sponsored by the McGregor Museum.

McGregor Museum Outreach project (Lotteries funding):

Report: June 2008
Report: September 2008

This project is continuing. A total of 11 groups and 585 people were sponsored to visit the museum between October and March, including 3 Grade 7 groups for lessons on evolution. This sponsorship is an ideal opportunity to support the Eco-Schools in the Region - two rural Eco-Schools were sponsored to visit the museum – Laerskool van Rensburg of Britstown (Vicky Ahlmann) and Isagontle Primary School of Kuruman (Tsego Lekutle of DTEC). A training workshop on human evolution (for ±60 Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers) is scheduled for August.

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PUBLICATIONS

Beginner's Guides to the plants and animals of Kimberley and surrounds.

These guides are aimed at explaining how to identify the common plants and animals in the  veld around Kimberley. Interesting anecdotes and facts accompany the text and sketches provide for easy identification of each species. The booklets are indispensable resources for Grade 7 to 12 learners and teachers, and are especially suitable for environmental projects and trips into the field to learn more about our natural environment.
These booklets were written and edited by field experts on the staff of the McGregor Museum, and printed by ShareNet , an environmental education networking project co-ordinated by WESSA.  Copies are available at the low price of R 15 each.

Hidden Splendour - A guide to the natural history of the Kalahari and surrounds. This guide is written in a popular style for the layman and amateur naturalist. It offers detailed information on the natural history of the Kalahari and surrounds. It should be of value to those with a passion for plant and animal life, and anyone with an interest in the environment and conservation. The guide includes:

A5 size; 80pp; paperback. Price R35.00. To place orders, contact the above address or telephone numbers.

For further details of these publications, or to place an order, contact Tania Anderson at tel. 053 839713 or Suzanne Erasmus at 053 8392717 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it