‘George Forest poses threat’

This overgrown area is supposed to be a fire break.

GEORGE NEWS - The forests that form the northern edge of George have become a source of threats to residents living along this border, according to a Denneoord resident, Alec Poynton.

He warns residents that they should be vigilant as these forests pose not only a huge fire threat, but are also a security threat. This situation, he says, is a result of negligence by the authorities who have failed to maintain the forests properly.
Firebreaks in the forests are non-existent, alien vegetation has been allowed to take over and there has been no pruning of pine trees in the plantation - these are all factors that have created a serious potential fire hazard for the adjacent neighbourhoods. Indigenous trees are also ringbarked illegally by herbalists.

There is no access control and the permit system has fallen away completely, allowing criminals to use the forests as a hide-away. They make fires there illegally that could be fatal. Poynton says he has also found evidence of drug use.

He has been pleading with the authorities for the past four years to reinstitute proper maintenance, but to no avail. "The situation has now reached crisis proportions. We are entering berg wind conditions this time of year."

In the area where he lives at the edge of the forest in Denneoord, people have been plagued by housebreaking. He has had three break-ins and theft at his home in the past year and found remnants of goods stolen from his home, at a spot in the forest where someone lives.

"The forests provide perfect cover for criminals who monitor residents' movements."
He says the state properties that are posing these risks are the Witfontein Pine Plantation and Outeniqua Nature Reserve.
According to his information, the Witfontein plantation is owned by the national Pu-blic Works Department and ma-naged by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The indigenous forest is on municipal property and is managed under the auspices of Cape Nature.

However, Outeniqua Nature Reserve Manager Othusitsi Mabi says all the forests bordering George are the responsibility of DAFF. Although he has been receiving complaints about the security situation in the forests, there is nothing Cape Nature can do. "If DAFF hands over the property to us or provides funding, we will manage the forests like we do our own reserve. We patrol our trails and I advise people to rather come to the Witfontein entrance of the reserve, where they can obtain permits and sign out again. They can walk among pristine fynbos."

Mabi said the fact that there is no fencing between the reserve and DAFF's plantation, makes the ma-nagement of the reserve more difficult.

The George Herald is awaiting response from the Director General of DAFF, Mr L Zita.

The municipality says it needs DAFF's permission to enter the area with the aim to act on some of the complaints. There have been negotiations with the department and the municipality is awaiting a permit.

* Die woude aan die voet van die Outeniquaberge is deesdae 'n ernstige brandgevaar vir nabygeleë woonbuurte en 'n broeipot vir misdadigers, sê 'n inwoner van Denneoord. Dit word veroorsaak deurdat owerhede nalaat om enige onderhoud aan die plantasies en inheemse wThe forests that form the nor-
thern edge of George have become a source of threats to residents living along this border, according to a Denneoord resident, Alec Poynton.

He warns residents that they should be vigilant as these forests pose not only a huge fire threat, but are also a security threat. This situation, he says, is a result of negligence by the authorities who have failed to maintain the forests properly.
Firebreaks in the forests are non-existent, alien vegetation has been allowed to take over and there has been no pruning of pine trees in the plantation - these are all factors that have created a serious potential fire hazard for the adjacent neighbourhoods. Indigenous trees are also ringbarked illegally by herbalists.

There is no access control and the permit system has fallen away completely, allowing criminals to use the forests as a hide-away. They make fires there illegally that could be fatal. Poynton says he has also found evidence of drug use.

He has been pleading with the authorities for the past four years to reinstitute proper maintenance, but to no avail. "The situation has now reached crisis proportions. We are entering berg wind conditions this time of year."

In the area where he lives at the edge of the forest in Denneoord, people have been plagued by housebreaking. He has had three break-ins and theft at his home in the past year and found remnants of goods stolen from his home, at a spot in the forest where someone lives.

"The forests provide perfect cover for criminals who monitor residents' movements."
He says the state properties that are posing these risks are the Witfontein Pine Plantation and Outeniqua Nature Reserve.
According to his information, the Witfontein plantation is owned by the national Pu-blic Works Department and ma-naged by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF). The indigenous forest is on municipal property and is managed under the auspices of Cape Nature.

However, Outeniqua Nature Reserve Manager Othusitsi Mabi says all the forests bordering George are the responsibility of DAFF. Although he has been receiving complaints about the security situation in the forests, there is nothing Cape Nature can do. "If DAFF hands over the property to us or provides funding, we will manage the forests like we do our own reserve. We patrol our trails and I advise people to rather come to the Witfontein entrance of the reserve, where they can obtain permits and sign out again. They can walk among pristine fynbos."

Mabi said the fact that there is no fencing between the reserve and DAFF's plantation, makes the ma-nagement of the reserve more difficult.

The George Herald is awaiting response from the Director General of DAFF, Mr L Zita.

The municipality says it needs DAFF's permission to enter the area with the aim to act on some of the complaints. There have been negotiations with the department and the municipality is awaiting a permit.

* Die woude aan die voet van die Outeniquaberge is deesdae 'n ernstige brandgevaar vir nabygeleë woonbuurte en 'n broeipot vir misdadigers, sê 'n inwoner van Denneoord. Dit word veroorsaak deurdat owerhede nalaat om enige onderhoud aan die plantasies en inheemse woude te doen.

- George Herald