20/11/2025
Good day
Please note my urgent concern regarding the level of service Glen-Graze are left with, taking in consideration that we are the only Sanctuary serving the entire Helderberg, Macassar, Sandvlei. Deep Freeze as well as parts of Khayelitsha.
21/03/2016 - 22/03/2016 billed to Sanctuary: R53,348.93
1. The road that was part of the land proclamation from the 4 smallholdings bordering M9 extension Main Road as a service road for Municipal Waste department to have access to the two main drains to service and attend when necessary. This was confirmed by City of Cape Town, Mr Hein Uys as well as Mr. Oliphant.
2. Numerous emails were sent to have this road cleaned and cleared as it poses a threat for the safety of the farm.
3. A fire was started on that service road during the late afternoon, and vagrants was running to the dam to collect water. I called it in to police for trespassing as well as emergency line for the Port Jacsons that caught fire close to our larger Oak trees.
4. The wind unfortunately was one of the worst factors besides the makeshift branch canopy that these people were sleeping under. (also reported to Municipality as a hazard on this road)
5. The fire was only attended to the top part and my concern to the crew when they started packing up was the smouldering debris still visible, the answer was that they soaked the roots and top will not catch fire again upon which I still was very confused about.
6. Next day at 08h00 they had to come fight the same fire again.
7. If this fire was treated according to the book, the fire would not have flared up again. This is a clear example of unprofessional firefighting not ensuring ALL 3 fire factors has been removed or eliminated.
8. Numerous attempts to bring this under the attention of the correct department was useless as all you hear is that they are rendering a service and we need to pay.
9. My question was why does the municipality not comply with Port Jacson trees and all dry vegetation as well as all other hazards caused by rubble and allowing fires under the trees which is not legal – the answer was plain and simple, people can do what they please on the road and that I must take it up with a different section of the municipality who still has not given me any clear answers.
10. How must small farmers then survive if the municipality is above the law and not setting an example by cleaning their own front stoep?
18/02/2025 15:34 billed to Sanctuary: R19,273.64
1. Fire started on opposite field where local municipality were dumping parks and other cuttings.
2. Four to Five months prior, a team of workers came to cut all the trees down after regular fires was reported in the Port Jacson vegetation growing on the open field partially owned by City and Transnet.
3. All parties affected from Schonenberg as well as Neigbourhood watch was reporting this fire hazard but to no avail.
4. Fire spotted about 1pm and was NOT attended to, spreading quickly because of the neglect of City’s dry dumping of trees, branches and more was left to burn and spread in gale-force winds for over 2 hours before they arrived.
5. The fire jumped the M9 as nothing could stop this blaze of fire. The first truck arrived and did not attend to the area leading to the school and animals but rather started on the opposite side. I went over to ask, and his reply was plain and simple – “Wait your turn”, I explained about the school and he ignored me – witnessed by the principal fearing for the school too.
6. The fire crew admitted to bad control this day and was furious that they had to work overtime – photo of crew can be supplied. The leader of this particular team was upset as he instructed to ensure the areas covered is properly done but when they moved 30 meters on, he noticed another flareup leading to another fire – again, witnesses to this can be called.
7. Again – you are welcome to dump in your own yard but how can it be allowed to create a fire hazard for other innocent taxpaying small farmers and Sanctuaries with NO governmental assistance or help, pitch up 2 hours AFTER receiving a call of your own fire hazard blazing in gale-force winds and then treat hard-earned assets into ashes and assume this is okay?
8. Again – everyone seeing and hearing about this disaster said the municipality must for once acknowledge that Schonenberg fighting the fire from their properties over the wall reporting the fire was not seen as a priority not the fact that less than a kilometre on, there is a Sanctuary and a school – why wait over two hours to attend to the mess created by the City themselves?
9. Firefighters should be held accountable for not sending out calls timeously as this was one of the excuses that the log got lost in reporting from one line to another.
10. City must stop being all wrapped up in preparing for G-whatever’s and focus on keeping their open areas in accordance with the bylaws and rules of the Western Cape – nobody can shift blame when clearly you were accumulating dead trees which will be visible on air photos normally used to prepare a proper report as an indication of why and how the fire reaches the fuming and devastating speed of light as all in its way is more fuel and dry Port Jackson’s lined up next to the sub tarmac road leading to the railway.
11. Leaving a fire where clearly the roots are still smouldering causing callbacks on fires flaring up devouring all in its way?
12. Please try and understand accountability and see and feel the losses City has inflicted on a Sanctuary still trying to lift its head after the financial strain you placed on this organisation on this day.
13. In all honesty – if the M9 did not stop the fire, how on earth did anyone stand a chance stopping a fire jumping a tarmac road.
14. Up till this very day, the pavements grass is never fully cut as the institutions the municipality contracted in clearly stated – again with witnessed that they have instructions to only attend to 10 meters from the road.
Thank you for offering help to those parties promising to be the change, sad to see that my previous emails was just brushed off.
Kind regards,
Suzanne
