The Table Bay Nature Reserve’s Rietvlei section has been temporarily closed due to localised flooding – however the recreational waterways will remain open as usual.
Due to heavy rains other parts of Table View had also flooded, leaving many families, including animals in dire straits.
The City of Cape Town says in a recent statement that the flooding within the reserve affected many of the roads, trails, picnic areas and boardwalks.
‘’Therefore Rietvlei is closed to the public for all land-based recreational activities, such as birdwatching and walking until further notice,” the statement reads.
Last week, TygerBurger reported last week of a snake handler and her son who rescued reptiles (snakes, lizards and chameleons) that were seen hanging on the fence in the Rietvlei, Table View.
Davine Sansom, the snake handler, says after she received a call from a friend informing her about the reptiles hanging on the fence by the embankment against the R27, she and her son, Andre, left straight away. “We caught many snakes, mainly skaapsteker, mole snakes, brown water snakes, skinks and chameleons,” she says.
Inaccessibility
A residents says on Facebook she could only get as far as the Milnerton Aquatic Club due to the flooding.
“We wanted to go to Rietvlei Nature Reserve to recharge after staying home for two weeks. Could get as far as the yacht club. Gate to the road leading towards the bird hides was closed. Absolutely flooded. Disappointed but thank goodness the rains came. The pans filled up and looking forward to going again soon,” she says.
The City says they had to close the vlei in the interest of visitors’ safety, and given the inaccessibility of many of the walking trails.
“The City’s environment management department has closed the land-based areas of the Rietvlei section until further notice. The recreational waterways in the Rietvlei section will remain open as usual. Our Table Bay Reserve management will monitor the water levels at Rietvlei and the situation on site by doing daily patrols and investigations. We can assure all residents that we will re-open these sections the moment it is safe for public admission,” says the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews.
- The City would also like to urge the public to report any case of wild animals in distress within the greater Milnerton area to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA on 021 700 4140, alternatively contact the Table Bay Nature Reserve on 021 444 0315.
