The Crocodile River Reserve in Centurion will finally receive protected status from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, after a drawn-out 40-year process initiated by about 100 local landowners.
The area was declared protected by MEC Kgosientso Ramakgopa in the government gazette on 2 October.
Crocodile River Reserve. Photo: Facebook/Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
The reserve lies between the Schurveberg Mountain in the north and Renosterskop in the north-west and straddles the Jukskei, Hennops and Crocodile Rivers.
According to the Centurion Record, the decision was welcomed by most residents of the area.
Local ward councillor Kingsley Wakelin said that, ‘the residents of Laezonia and Schurveberg have been fighting for this for many years. They approached me to help them with the process two years ago and so we took the issue to the Gauteng provincial legislature.’
‘Because it is now officially a green area, the reserve can be protected in terms of what kinds of development takes place. This will stop the urban creep that has been threatening the area for some years now.’
The reserve offers a green space where people from the surounding urban areas can unwind in nature. There are regular guided walks and the Crocodile River Reserve is home to bird species such as the bateleur, barn owl, blue crane and brown-hooded kingfisher. Mammals include reedbuck and chamca baboon.
For more information about the reserve, visit crocodileriverreserve.co.za
Image: Facebook/Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
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