The deliberate poisoning of two historic bluegum trees in Koeberg Road in Durbanville last Sunday evening — opposite the entrance to D’Urbanvale — had irate residents up in arms this week.

The culprit was caught red-handed when a resident of D’Urbanvale, who was driving past last Sunday at about 17:50, witnessed him drilling holes into one of the trees.

It was reported to an auxiliary law enforcement officer of the City of Cape Town, according to a spokesperson of the City’s recreation and parks department.

The vehicle of the suspect, a white bakkie with a white canopy and CBS-registration number (Mossel Bay or Hartenbos) was spotted parked near the trees.

A white bakkie with a CBS-registration number was spotted later parked in front of a house in Dorstberg Estate, the secure complex on the other side of the wall of the row of bluegum trees in Koeberg Road.

Removed herbicide pellets

The auxiliary law enforcement officer investigated the trees about 45 minutes later and removed the white herbicide pellets (similar to the herbicide Scatter Kill for Weeds), which were administered to the holes, presumably to kill the trees.

He informed the City’s recreation and parks department of the incident. TygerBurger was told that a charge will be laid with Durbanville police once enough evidence has been gathered, but upon enquiring with the police, TygerBurger found that no charge had yet been laid.

Drilled large holes

“The department drilled larger holes from below into the existing holes the next day to remove the herbicide which was still present, to prevent the trees from taking up the poison, and also to prevent water from accumulating inside the trees, causing the wood to decay,” according to the spokesperson.

The trees are the property of the City of Cape Town as they are located on a public road verge.

The department’s compliance unit is also investigating the matter and will follow up with the Durbanville police, according to the spokesperson.

Bluegum trees ’cause a mess’

The incident put the spotlight on the alleged mess caused by the row of trees bordering the properties in Dorstberg Estate. While TygerBurger was taking photographs of the affected trees at the scene this week, a resident of Dorstberg Estate stopped to enquire.

He said they are “fed up with the mess caused by the trees”.

Leaves, branches and berries fall from overhanging branches into their yards, clogging their gutters and making a mess in their pools, he said. He suggested that the bluegum trees be removed and replaced with palm trees.Natasha Schut (please verify spelling of first name), chair of the body corporate of Dorstberg Estate, told TygerBurger she was aware of the complaints by some residents.

“Nothing grows in your yard in the shadow under the overhanging branches and the tree gum damages our paving. However, the trees were here first and we need to respect that,” she said.

Branches broke off

It is not the first time the bluegum trees have been a source of frustration for the residents. In 2016, branches broke off during strong winds and fell on houses, Schut said. The City then pruned the trees back.

“However, the contractors just left the branches there on a large heap on the verge of the road, and homeless people made it their home.

“Motorists often stopped there to urinate against the wall. It was me and my daughter in the end who had to remove the dead branches,” she complained.

According to Schut the residents are planning to lodge new complaints with the City to prune back the trees. She also plans to send out an email to residents of Dorstberg Estate to ask them not to take the law into their own hands, but to wait for the City to address the problem.

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