{"id":44637,"date":"2024-08-21T07:00:19","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/alien-buster-has-green-fingers-20240820\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T03:48:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T01:48:20","slug":"alien-buster-has-green-fingers-20240820","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/alien-buster-has-green-fingers-20240820\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Alien buster\u2019 has green fingers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Alien plants on Rondebosch Common don\u2019t stand a chance with Sivumo Zibaya (38) from Kraaifontein on the watch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zibaya is formally employed by the Friends of Rondebosch Common (FRC) as a Park Ranger. He has been manning the park since March last year. His current contract, which was renewed in March, will come to an end in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c(He) is on the Common four days a week, during the green months of April to October. (Zibaya) is an alien buster of note; he\u2019s vigilant and removes any small alien trees he spots before they can grow and cause problems \u2013 over 45 Port Jacksons and 37 others (pine, palm, and Spanish broom) this year alone,\u201d says Tim Jobson, chair of FRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zibaya\u2019s involvement with the Common began with ad-hoc work sessions, supervised and paid by FRC, several years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-valuable-skills\">Valuable skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Through City Parks, he joined the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), where he worked under a series of short-term contracts for two years. During this time, the FRC supplemented his salary with additional funds to ensure his work on the Common could continue. After the EPWP programme ended, FRC was determined to retain his valuable skills, so they continued employing him for three days a week with support from their own funds and \u201cSivumo Day\u201d donations from a few dedicated members. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHowever, the FRC didn\u2019t have the capacity to manage his employment directly. To solve this, we partnered with Nature Connect, who took over the administrative responsibilities (such as UIF, COIDA, and payroll) through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) in March (last year). This allowed (Zibaya) to continue his work on the Common, now proudly wearing Nature Connect kit. When Nature Connect holds training days, (Zibaya) is invited to participate and further his skills,\u201d Jobson says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the years, Zibaya has acquired valuable knowledge, skills, and experience. He can now confidently identify and distinguish between the indigenous species and unwanted alien weeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recently, he showed great initiative by engaging with a team of EPWP workers employed as street cleaners in the Rosebank area, and persuading them, despite their fear of snakes, to assist in clearing a large amount of litter from the bushes near Red Cross corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-training\">Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Zibaya has attended a training day with Nature Connect to learn about the basic composition of fynbos, plants, and flowers. He has also attended first aid training and a snake handling course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In May, he rescued a mole snake trapped in a discarded hairnet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zibaya grew up in Butterworth, Eastern Cape. He was raised by his grandmother. He came to Cape Town with his parents in Grade 5, first living in Nyanga and then Old Crossroads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After his parents passed away, he inherited his late mother\u2019s house in Kraaifontein, but he had to buy it again as it wasn\u2019t registered correctly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHaving a steady job has made a huge difference. I\u2019m now able to pay the bond and cover the school fees for my sons, who are seven and three years old. I love being outdoors and am glad to work outside. My dream is to rebuild my father\u2019s house in Bawa Falls, Gcuwa, and take my boys to see where I grew up \u2013 and to have a place to retire one day!\u201d Zibaya shares. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jobson emphasizes that without Zibaya\u2019s ongoing support, their weeding efforts on the Common would be worthless. \u201cThis work is totally dependent on donations and I appeal to all residents who enjoy our common to assist us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rondeboschcommon.org.za\/\" target=\"_blank\">www.rondeboschcommon.org.za<\/a> or email friendsofrondeboschcommon@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alien plants on Rondebosch Common don\u2019t stand a chance with Sivumo Zibaya (38) from Kraaifontein on the 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