Northern Areas
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One of our largest regions, covering a vast range of habitats and protected areas across northern South Africa
The Northern Areas Region (NAR) of WESSA is comprised of Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Free State and Mpumalanga (excluding the Lowveld region), with Gauteng/North West being its main area of operation. Within this large area are a number of key national, provincial and biosphere reserves.
The region is managed by a committee, conservation and project leaders, youth leaders and specialists. NAR office bearers play an important role in the National Conservancy association (NACSSA) as well as regional associations and conservancies affiliated to WESSA.
We have a number of active members’ and friends’ groups, which in time will develop into branches in the Waterberg, Polokwane and Tzaneen area in Limpopo, the Kruger National Park, groups in Dullstroom and the Friends of Witbank Nature reserve.
NAR was one of the founding members of the Magaliesberg Biosphere, the Magaliesberg Protection Association and ARMOUR. The region also produces the popular African Wildlife and Environment Magazine which was originally launched in 1946
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Northern Areas Projects
Birds of the Magaliesberg
Birds of the Magaliesberg is an electronic guide to over 450 bird species found in the Magaliesberg biosphere reserve, on the doorstep of two of our largest cities – Pretoria and Johannesburg. Development is negatively affecting the environment and the future of unspoilt natural areas.
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The identification and protection of biodiversity areas is critical to the long-term viability of naturally occurring bird populations.
The mountain range and its surroundings are home to a number of special Red Data listed species like the Cape Vulture, Black Stork, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfood, Half-collared Kingfisher and African Black Duck.
Below the mountain, the Hartbeespoort Dam is a haven for waterfowl and waders, included White Pelicans that sometimes visit the deeper waters. The dense stands of Blue Gums in Meerhof are home to Black and Ovambo Sparrowhawks, Spotted Eagle-Owl and other owl species.
The Magaliesberg Mountain Range hosts two Cape Vulture colonies and one or two breeding pairs of Blue Cranes. Secretarybirds still occasionally occur in the grasslands.
Blue Cranes of the Magaliesberg
South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane, is near endemic to the country. Numbers have dwindled over the decades owing to destruction of natural grasslands in the Free State, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal
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The Magaliesberg Blue Crane project is aimed at educating the public about the plight of the species, and protecting the last two breeding pairs in the region.
Project 2
Nyoka Ridge Vulture Restaurant and Monitoring project
Over 600 Cape Vultures are thought to be resident in the area. Individual birds are tracked and monitored via cameras at the feeding site, which photograph the birds’ wing tags. This information is shared with the Endangered Wildlife Trust Vulture unit.
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Top facilities have been created to enable members and the public to view the endangered Cape Vulture in its natural mountain habitat and at close quarters when visiting the feeding area.
ARMOUR (Action for Responsible Management of Our Rivers)
Established in late 2015, the aim of this project is to return our rivers and wetlands into clean, living waterways by linking accountable authorities and civil society in an integrated water stewardship initiative.
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ARMOUR’s first success was lobbying for emergency funding from Joburg Water (JW) for urgent maintenance of Northern Waste Water Treatment Works (NW) in late 2015, to deal with constant sewerage flows into the Jukskei River.
The outcome was concerted action to stop this pollution and the formation of the Jukskei River Working Group, which meets regularly with Joburg Water (JW) to identify and monitor problems at the wastewater-Jukskei River interface.
Since then, ARMOUR has focused on three areas:
- Building a fast response system with JW for identification and repair of sewerage leaks.
- Promoting civil society’s co-responsibility for water stewardship by sharing information through a variety of electronic media.
- Seeking innovative approaches to waste water management by interacting with the Water Research Commission and Prof Chris Curtis of the Wits University Centre in Water Research and Development (CiWaRD) to enable master’s students to do research on the many facets contributing to the pollution of our waterways.
An active committee meets regularly and is now planning to extend ARMOUR’s footprint to the Hennops River, part of the northern catchment area that ends up feeding the hyacinth in Hartbeespoort Dam.
The Committee, which considers itself ‘A Voice for Water’ consist of:
- Anthony Duigan, formerly of Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy and Greenbelt Action Group
- Helen Duigan, former Chair of Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy
- Willem Hazewindus, formerly Regional Chair of WESSA Northern Areas
- Mark McClue, Chartwell Conservancy
- John du Plessis, professional engineer
- Willem Snyman, founder of FRESH (Fountains & Rivers Environmental Sanctuary Hennops)
Project 2
Queen of the Night (QOTN) Bio Control project
Queen of the Night (Cereus jamacaru/ Cactaceae) is an alien invasive species originating from Brazil. It is commonly planted in gardens abutting natural areas, from which it is spread widely by birds eating its fruit.
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The plant forms dense stands among indigenous trees, reaching heights of up to 6 metres and preventing animals from accessing food and shade.
Bio Control, in the form of mealybug-type aphids called Hypogeococcus pungens, has proved to be a successful method of elimination without the risks that herbicides present.
The entire region North and South of the Magaliesberg is now in various stages of bug release, which began 2013.
A colony of mealybugs on the stem of a Queen of the Night plant.
Aloe peglerae conservation
The Aloe peglerae or Turk’s Cap aloe is found only the Magaliesberg and nearby Witwatersberg mountains, and is in constant threat owing to illegal removal and fires – and more recently from white aloe scale, which attacks the plants.
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Fortunately, some fine groups of A. peglerae still occur on private farms, and in conservancies like Peglerae Conservancy, where the plants are protected and monitored on a regular basis, giving us some hope for the future of the species.
Natural hybrids between A. peglerae and A. marlothii have been noted. Projects are being considered to propagate area-specific plants and plant them back into areas where they no longer occur.
Branches & Affiliates
The Northern Areas Region has the largest number of WESSA affiliated friends groups, which do invaluable work in keeping green open spaces maintained and protected. These number about 27, of which 18 are based in and around the city of Tshwane.
Friends groups in the Tshwane metro are coordinated by the Tshwane branch chairman, while the regional representative looks after the rest.
Currently there are three branches:
- Tshwane
- Springs-Nigel
- Boksburg
and two newly formed zones
- Kempton Park
- Soweto
Aloe Project partner, Andy de Wet from The Aloe Farm, with region chair John Wesson.
Newsletters
Get in touch
| NORTHERN AREAS (FREE STATE, NORTH WEST, GAUTENG, MPUMALANGA & LIMPOPO) |
NAME | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Committee Chair | John Wesson | nar.chair@wessalife.org.za |
| Regional Vice-Chair | Lynne Clarke | mungomungos2@gmail.com |
| Regional Coordinator | Jenny Wesson | nar.membership@wessalife.org.za |
| Regional Youth Events & Projects | Patrick Warriker | pwarriker@gmail.com |
| Boksburg Branch Co Chair | Mary Bjornstad | mary@vikingprojects.co.za |
| Boksburg Branch Co Chair | Hendrika/Henny Zwanziger | zwanziger.hendrika@gmail.com |
| Springs-Nigel Branch Chair | Peter Law | plaw@netactive.co.za |
| Tshwane Branch Chair | Carol Martin | carolma@telkomsa.net |
| Kempton Park Zone Chair | Martin Hedington | m.l.hedington@gmail.com |
Northern areas activites and projects in pictures
Click on any image to start the slideshow.
Make a donation
Your donation of any amount helps support WESSA local initiatives for the environment, undertaken by active volunteers in our five regions.
You’ll also help train young South Africans in conservation and ecology, and raise awareness of environmental issues in our communities.
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If you would prefer to give by EFT or direct deposit, our banking details are as follows:
| Account: | WESSA Membership |
|---|---|
| Bank: | First National Bank |
| Branch & Number: | Howick 22-07-25 |
| Account Number: | 62 219 969 732 |
| Swift Code: | FIRN ZA JJ |
| Deposit reference: | Donation + Surname & Initials or Membership Number |