wetland strategy and action plan (2017- 2022) local action

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

Wetland Strategy and Action Plan

(2017- 2022)

Local Action for Biodiversity (LAB): Wetlands South Africa

E K U R H U L E N I M E T R O P O L I T A N M U N I C I P A L I T Y W E T L A N D S T R A T E G Y A N D A C T I O N P L A N

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E K U R H U L E N I M E T R O P O L I T A N M U N I C I P A L I T Y

W E T L A N D S T R A T E G Y A N D A C T I O N P L A N ( 2 0 1 7 - 2 0 2 2 )

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 3

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 4

List of Figures & Tables ............................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 5

1. Importance of Wetlands in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality ........................................... 7

1.1. What is a Wetland? ..................................................................................................................... 7

The Value of Wetlands to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality .............................................. 9

Threats to Wetlands within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality ............................................... 11

2. Governance & Management ................................................................................................................ 15

2.1 Policy framework ............................................................................................................................ 15

2.2 Wetland management within the municipality .......................................................................... 17

3. Developing the Ekurhuleni Wetland Strategy and Action Plan ....................................................... 19

4. Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Wetland Strategy and Action Plan (2017- 2022) ............. 20

Footnotes ................................................................................................................................................... 30


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The compilation of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality Wetland Strategy and Action Plan

(WSAP) would not have been possible without the significant contribution and support from the

many active stakeholders who currently work within the municipality.

ICLEI Africa Secretariat (ICLEI AS) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality would like to

specifically thank USAID (the funders of the Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa

(LAB: Wetlands SA) project), without whom the compilation of the WSAP would not have been

possible. ICLEI AS and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality would also like to thank the LAB:

Wetlands SA Project partners, namely the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), South

African Local Government Association (SALGA), Working for Wetlands as well as the South African

National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for the unfailing support received during the development

of this WSAP.


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L IST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AS Africa Secretariat

DEA Department of Environmental Affairs

EMM Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

GWF Gauteng Wetlands Forum

IAP Invasive Alien Plant

ICLEI ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability

LAB: Wetlands SA Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa

SA South Africa

SALGA South African Local Governments Association

SANBI South African National Biodiversity Initiative

USAID United States Agency for International Development

WFW Working for Wetlands

WSAP Wetland Strategy and Action Plan

L IST OF F IGURES & TABLES

Figure 1: Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in relation to the rest of South Africa.

(Data Source: Municipal Demarcation Board).

Figure 2: Mottled soils indicative of a wetland.

Figure 3: Specially adapted wetland vegetation.

Figure 4: Wetland systems within South Africa.

Figure 5: Illustration of the EMM landcover showing waterbodies and wetlands.

Figure 6: Threatened wetland ecosystems types and river ecosystem types in the

Ekurhuleni Metro identified in the National Freshwater Ecosystems

Priority Areas Project.

Figure 7: Organogram showing where the Wetlands division is situated with the

EMM structure.

Table 1: EMM river and wetland ecosystems threats status.

Table 2: Threats to wetlands within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality:

Table 3: Legislation governing wetland management in the Ekurhuleni

Metropolitan Municipality.


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INTRODUCTION

South Africa is endowed with a rich wealth of biodiversity, which offers an immense opportunity

to support the country’s development path by providing many goods and services which

contribute to municipal service delivery, water and food security and quality of life, especially

under a changing climate.

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) lies in the eastern part of Gauteng Province, South

Africa (Figure 1), and it covers an area of 1923km. It stretches for approximately 45 kilometres

from west to east and 55 kilometres from north to south. EMM is bordered by the metropolitan

areas of the City of Johannesburg to the west, City of Tshwane to the north, Nkangala District

(Mpumalanga) to the east and Sedibeng District to the south. It is located on the Southern African

continental divide and falls within the Highveld Region. EMM is well known for its numerous

waterbodies, including lakes, pans, dams, wetlands and streams. The natural environment of EMM

is pre-dominantly Highveld Grasses. However, due to massive urbanisation and industrialisation,

the natural environment has largely been transformed or highly impacted, but still provides

ecological services.

Wetlands are South Africa’s most threatened ecosystems, with 48% of wetland ecosystems

critically endangered1. Within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, a significant number of the

wetlands are under threat or have already been lost. This is largely due to the spread of invasive

alien plants (IAPs) deliberate draining of wetlands to make way for development and agriculture,

inappropriate development within the close proximity to the wetlands, poorly regulated

agricultural practices (overgrazing and ploughing) and contamination through chemical, sewage

and stormwater seeps. Degraded wetlands are unable to function to the same degree as healthy

wetlands and as such ecosystem service provision from these wetlands is severely hindered or

even lost altogether.

As wetlands play such a crucial role in the municipality in terms of habitat support for flora and

fauna, as well as critical ecosystem service provision to the municipality, there is an urgent need

to increase awareness of wetland importance and to incorporate natural wetland resource

considerations into municipal governance mechanisms and planning. Careful management as well

as the investment in the maintenance of healthy wetlands and the rehabilitation and restoration

of damaged or degraded wetlands is also needed. This will ensure the continued provision of these

vital ecosystem services to the municipality.

In order to streamline and improve the management of wetlands, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan

Municipality is implementing the Local Action for Biodiversity: Wetlands South Africa (LAB:

Wetlands SA) programme with support from ICLEI Africa Secretariat (ICLEI AS). The LAB: Wetlands

SA project aims to ensure the protection of priority natural wetland resources, thus enabling the

supply of ecosystem services, and promoting resilient communities and sustainable local

economies under a changing climate within South African local governments. Through the

development of this WSAP, ICLEI AS will assist Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in identifying

the gaps in management and assist with devising new and better wetlands management strategies

going forward.

1 National Biodiversity Assessment, 2011


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Figure 1: Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in relation to the rest of South Africa. (Data Source:

Municipal Demarcation Board).


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1. IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS IN THE EKURHULENI

METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY

1.1. What is a Wetland?

In simpler terms, a wetland is a feature in the landscape which is saturated with water for a long

enough period that the soil conditions change (mottling as a result of the anaerobic conditions)

and the vegetation shifts to respond to these changes.2

Figure 2 & 3: Mottled soils indicative of a wetland (left) and specially adapted wetland vegetation

(right).3

Six different types of wetlands occur across the country. These vary based on the underlying

geology and include seeps, depressions, wetland flats, floodplain wetlands, channelled valley-

bottom wetlands and unchannelled valley bottom wetlands.4 SANBI has compiled a detailed

hydro-geomorphic classification system to assist with wetland identification. An illustrative

overview from this document of the different types of wetlands is included in Figure 4.

Wetlands also vary on a temporal scale based on the climate and season. As such, once a wetland

type has been established, it can then be categorised into either a temporary, seasonal or

permanent wetland. A temporary wetland is saturated for a very short period (approximately one

month) during the rainy season only. Vegetation associated with this type of wetland are

2 Per comms with Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN) in February 2016. 3 Images courtesy of Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN) 4 Ollis, D; Snaddon, K; Job, N and Mbona, N (2013) “SANBI Classification System for Wetlands and other Aquatic Ecosystems in South Africa”.

“Wetlands are land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems, where the

water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow

water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically

adapted to life in saturated soil”.

National Water Act No. 36 of 1998.


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predominantly grass species, as well as a mixture of species that occur in non-wetland areas and

hydrophytic plants that are largely restricted to wetland areas. A seasonal wetland is saturated for

most of the growing season. Vegetation associated with this type of wetland are predominantly

sedges and grasses that are restricted to wetland areas, usually < 1m tall. Lastly, a permanent

wetland is saturated all year round. This type of wetland is dominated by highly specialised aquatic

plants adapted to permanently wet conditions.5

Figure 4: Wetland systems within South Africa.6

All wetland types can be classified as high value ‘ecological infrastructure’ due to the large number

of ecosystem services that they provide. Wetland ecosystem services can be classified into four

separate categories namely ‘provisioning services’, ‘regulating services’, ‘cultural services’ and

‘supporting services’7. Provisioning services can be described as the products one can physically

obtain from wetlands such as fresh water, food and natural medicines. Regulatory services can be

described as the benefits one receives from the wetland such as stream flow regulation, erosion

control, water filtration and flood attenuation. Cultural services are the nonmaterial benefits that

one can obtain from wetlands such as spiritual enrichment, sense of place and aesthetic

experience. Lastly supporting services are the services provided that are necessary for the

production of all other ecosystem services namely, nutrient cycling and water cycling.7 Please see

5 Per comms with Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN) in February 2016. 6 Image sourced from Ollis, D., Snaddon, K., Job, N. and Mbona, N. 2013. “SANBI Classification System for Wetlands and other Aquatic Ecosystems in South Africa” 7 Russi D., ten Brink P., Farmer A., Badura T., Coates D., Förster J., Kumar R. and Davidson N. (2013) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands. IEEP, London and Brussels; Ramsar Secretariat, Gland.


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“The Value of Wetlands to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality” below for a detailed

description of the ecosystem services that wetlands within municipality provide.

It should be noted that ecosystem services provided by wetlands come at no cost to the

municipality and as such, all that needs to be done to ensure continued provision of these services

is to protect and maintain local wetlands. However, the inappropriate management of wetlands,

can cause a loss of wetland area and subsequent loss of ecosystem services. This results in the

municipalities having to invest in expensive infrastructure (e.g. water filtration plants or flood

barriers) to ensure the same level of service delivery.

The Value of Wetlands to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

As outlined in “Section 1.1: What is a Wetland”, wetlands provide innumerable goods and

services to local communities and municipalities in the form of provisioning, regulatory, cultural

and supporting services.

Wetlands provide many benefits at very little cost. They are unique and vital ecological resources,

providing a host of services to society. Thus, every individual wetland is important. However,

wetlands differ according to their characteristics and the particular ecosystem services that they

supply to society. Thus, society may deem some wetlands to be more important than others8.

Wetland ecosystem services in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality include:

Flood Reduction and Stream-flow Regulation - Wetlands retain large amounts of water, which

would reduce the impact of floodwaters further down the river. This is particularly important in

urban areas, as developments have increased the rate and volume of surface water runoff.

Wetlands also recharge groundwater. In EMM, a substantial percentage of the population live

within the 1:50 year flood-line, like in Moleleki Section in Katlehong where a township was

established within the flood-line of the Natalspruit and the community is flooded regularly. The

conservation and rehabilitation of wetlands will reduce the impact on these people caused by the

periodic floods in the Municipality.

Water Quality Improvement - Wetlands are good water filters. The wetland vegetation intercepts

runoff before it reaches the river and filters out nutrients, wastes and sediments. Wetlands reduce

nitrates and phosphates; this prevents eutrophication of rivers and dams. The reduction in

sediment prevents siltation of rivers, dams and ports. Sediments also transport absorbed

nutrients, pesticides, heavy metal and other toxins that would lower the quality of water and make

it harmful for consumption. Wetlands therefore provide a cost effective and efficient wastewater

treatment.

Biodiversity Banks - Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems. They support a wide

variety of plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and water birds. They serve

as important breeding grounds for these species.

8 EMM Wetland Inventory, 2007


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The destruction and degradation of wetlands has led to the loss of habitat for a number of

endangered species. These include a large number of different migratory waterfowl, as well as the

Giant Bullfrog.

The wetlands fauna and flora are also important from an aesthetic point of view, especially in a

city where loss of open space is constantly occurring through development. People do not have

time to visit the countryside, thus wetlands provide green lungs where people can relax in pleasant

surroundings.

Erosion Control - Wetland vegetation binds the soil, preventing it from being washed

downstream and in the process it reduces the erosive power of the water. Wetlands also reduce

the velocity of the water through friction thereby allowing the sediments to settle.

Recreational Purposes - Wetlands act as recreational areas for people, as places where they go

for relaxation and to enjoy nature. They are used for water sports, bird watching and fishing.

Victoria Lake in Germiston is a man-made waterbody located in the Natalspruit catchment and

Middle Lake in Benoni are examples of waterbodies used for recreational purposes where fishing

and water sports take place. Korman Bird Sanctuary situated at Westdene Pan, Glen Austin Bird

Sanctuary in Glen Austin Pan and Marievale Bird Sanctuary and Grootvaly Blesbokspruit

Conservation area in the Blesbokspruit all have bird watching facilities.

Medicinal Properties - People have used wetland animals and plants for medicinal purposes for

thousands of years. The importance of plants for human health is evident by the estimated 70-

80% of people worldwide who rely mainly on traditional, largely herbal medicine to meet their

primary health care needs.

Educational and tertiary research potential – the wetlands and rivers in EMM present vast

environmental educational as well as research opportunities for students.


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Figure 5: Illustration of the EMM landcover showing waterbodies and wetlands (EMM BRP, 2014).

The EMM contains a high diversity of river and wetland ecosystems. The Natural Freshwater

Ecosystem Priority Areas (NFEPA) project (Nel et al., 2011) identified 30 unique wetland systems

and 7 river types in the area. The EMM contains a high portion of South Africa’s urban, industrial

and mining activity, as well as significant areas of arable agriculture all of which potentially

negatively impact on the condition of hydrological systems. Impacts include changes in water

quality (e.g. acid mine drainage, waste water from treatment plants, fertilizer and pesticide run-

off) and water flow regimes (e.g. catchment hardening and increased storm water flows).

Consequently, 97% of the wetland and 29% of the river systems are threatened.

Threats to Wetlands within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

Despite the huge benefits that wetlands provide in terms of ecosystem services, 50% of wetlands

in South Africa have already been lost and 48% of the remaining wetlands are critically endangered

and/or degraded.9 This loss is a direct result of deliberate draining of wetlands, development and

expansion (both urban and agricultural) and pollution. Damage to wetlands results in increasingly

limited functionality and subsequently a decrease in the ability to provide valuable ecosystem

services.

This is an overview of wetland disturbance factors or threats affecting wetlands within Ekurhuleni

Metropolitan Municipality.

Table 1: EMM river and wetland ecosystems threats status.

9 SANBI. 2011. National Biodiversity Assessment.


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River and

Wetland

Threat Status

Number of

Critically

Endangered

Types

Number of

Endangered

Types

Number of

Vulnerable

Types

Number of

Least

Threatened

Types

Total

Wetlands 20 8 1 1 30

Rivers 0 0 2 5 7

Total 20 8 3 6 37

Figure 6: Threatened wetland ecosystems types and river ecosystem types in the Ekurhuleni

Metro identified in the National Freshwater Ecosystems Priority Areas Project.

Table 2: Threats to wetlands within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality:

Threat Description

Mining/Quarrying and Other

Excavations

Sand Quarrying and other excavations were identified at

different wetland sites around EMM. These activities had led

to the degradation of most wetland systems. Most of these

occur in and around new construction sites, mostly residential

developments. In some areas such as Boksburg, Springs and

Nigel, mining, quarries and other excavations were a common

factor in active and dormant mining sites such as one site in


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Hill View, Germiston. Acid mine drainage (AMD) occurs when

water flows over exposed sulphide minerals, which oxidise in

the presence of water and oxygen, causing the water to

become acidic, which then dissolves other toxic metals.

Exposure and oxidation of pyrite and other sulphide minerals

occur in mine wall rocks, backfill, waste rock piles, low grade

ore stockpiles and tailings deposits. In and around South

African gold mines, pyrite (FeS2) present in gold ore dissolves

on oxidation and releases iron and sulphuric acids.

According to a report (December 2010) commissioned by the

Inter-ministerial Committee on Acid Mine Drainage the mining

companies and government had until June 2012 to control

acid mine drainage before the toxic water under central

Johannesburg begins to flood the tourist mine in Gold Reef

City, with estimates of the water reaching the surface –

possibly initially in the Boksburg area – in March 2013. On the

East Rand, as pumping of water from the Grootvlei mine near

Springs stopped in early 2011, estimates suggest that acid

mine drainage will flow onto the surface of the ground near

Nigel central business district three or five years following the

closure of the mine – if action is not taken. The Blesbokspruit

and the Marievale Bird Sanctuary are already contaminated

with toxic mine water. (Earthlife Africa website)

Dams/damming Filling of dams leads to the inundation of the upstream of the

dam wall and the immediate area around (Figure 11). In many

instances the outlets of the dams are poorly maintained

creating opportunity for erosion gullies and bursting. A large

number of wetlands on private land, especially farms and

agricultural holdings, were mostly small artificial dams or

ponds. Usually the water is kept for irrigation purposes and

drinking water for livestock. These dams hold a lot of water

which affects water supply to downstream users, hence the

drying out of most wetlands. A large number of these small

dams are found in the Petit/ Pomona areas. The study (The

Draft Reclamation, Rehabilitation, Landscaping and

Enhancement Feasibility Master Plan of Ekurhuleni’s

Waterbodies) also found that many wetlands are dammed for

recreation purposes. A good example of this is the Rynfield

Bunny Park dams which are used for recreation in the park.

Drainage Channels and

Diversions

Drainage has negative effects on wetlands. Drainage channels

speed up the movement of water through and out of the

wetland, reducing its effectiveness in regulating stream flow

and increasing danger of erosion. Wetlands are difficult areas


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to work, due to their waterlogged conditions. This leads to the

drainage of culverts to divert water from the wetland to create

conditions that will suit the envisaged land use. As a result,

most of these wetlands have dried out completely. In the case

of Ekurhuleni the wetland in Glen Marais has been impacted

by a manmade drain which deposits excess water from the

road into the adjacent wetland. Most drainage channels are

created in agricultural fields when wetlands are drained to give

way to crops. This in many cases leads to the development of

erosion gullies which grow and develop into a big donga. The

end result is water flowing in an incised channel, drying out

the whole wetland area.

Cultivation: Commercial and

Subsistence

Agriculture accounts for large part of land coverage in the

EMM with irrigated agriculture being the most dominant

activity. It was found that most cultivated farms extend to

parts of or within wetlands areas. Some wetlands have been

cultivated, and thus irreversibly transformed. Consequently,

agricultural activities have significantly altered the size and

shape of most wetlands around the Metro area. Additionally,

water regimes within most wetlands have been altered from

permanent to either seasonal or temporal wetlands.

Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) Invasive Alien Plant species (IAPs) displace indigenous

vegetation and therefore impact the integrity of the wetland

system. They drain wetlands and destroy indigenous

vegetation, reducing cover, rendering it poor quality habitat

for wetland fauna (Palmer et al., 2002). Gauteng is one area

that is heavily infested with invasive alien plant species and

EMM is no exception. The most dominant invasive alien plants

identified are blue gum, black wattle, poplar and willows.

These plants occur within and/or on the temporal parts of

wetland areas.

Wetlands in particular and open waterbodies in general are

of the most threatened habitats in the world today. In some

catchments in South Africa, studies reveal that over 50% of

the wetlands have already been largely transformed or totally

destroyed.

Other threats to wetlands in Ekurhuleni include:

Gully Erosion

Water Disposal and/or dumping

Transportation Infrastructure (Roads and Railway)

Residential and Industrial Development

Burning

Livestock


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In addition to the above, activities specific to the Blesbkspruit RAMSAR site include poaching,

hunting with dogs, burning, illegal dumping, illegal mining by artisanal miners in the river bed and

on the banks, chemical and pathogen pollution from water care works and industries.

2. GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

South Africa has an extensive legislative framework concerning the environment and biodiversity

is considered in both development planning as well as national government priorities. This section

outlines key legislation and policies as well as the governance structure within the Ekurhuleni

Metropolitan Municipality which leads to the current wetland management strategy within the

district.

2.1 Policy framework

Table 3 provides a comprehensive summary of all South African legislation, policies and strategies

pertinent for the management of wetlands within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality. It is

important to note that some of the legislation such as the National Environmental Management

Act provides specific instructions regarding wetland management whilst other legislation indirectly

supports management of wetlands such as the National Environmental Management: Waste Act.

Table 3: Legislation governing wetland management in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

LEGISLATION/ POLICY/ STRATEGY HOW IT RELATES TO WETLANDS

Legislation

South African Constitution Overarching principles of care for the

environment.

National Water Act Water use control, including extraction and

construction within the vicinity of a

watercourse or wetland.

National Environmental Management Act Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for

the development of a new or disturbed site

within the vicinity of a watercourse or wetland.

National Environmental Management:

Biodiversity Act

Protection of biodiversity and the formulation

of a number of tools (e.g. bioregional plans

and threatened ecosystem lists) that feed into

land use planning and EIA procedures.


Biodiversity Act - Alien and Invasive Species

Regulations

All matters related to invasive species

management (fauna and flora).


Integrated Coastal Management Act

Integrated landscape protection from

catchment to the coast.


Protected Areas Act

Protection of national parks, protected areas

and conservation sites. This includes the

protection of wetland site.


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National Environmental Management: Waste

Act

Regulation of illegal dumping

Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act Protect the utilization of the natural

agricultural resources to promote the

conservation of the soil, the water sources and

the vegetation and the combating of weeds

and invasive plants.

Municipal Systems Act Role of local governments and the

requirements for IDPs, SDFs and Disaster

Management Plans

Municipal Structures Act Promotion of regional planning and spatial

planning categories.

Municipal Health Act Monitoring of WWTW discharge

Policies

National Development Plan, and associated

Medium Term Strategic Framework.

The NDP sets out measures to protect natural

resources in South Africa. Through the

creation of the MTSF and associated ‘Delivery

Agreements’, required outputs and targets are

set.

Municipal Planning

Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Overall strategy document for the

municipality.

Provincial Strategic Development Framework

(SDF)

Overarching spatial planning guidelines for the

province.

District SDF Broad spatial planning guidelines for the

district (including a map of land use within the

district)

Local Municipal SDFs Strategic plans to manage municipal land at

the local level.

Open Space Framework Demarcation of Open Space Areas.

Environmental Management Framework Map and land use guidelines for areas of

environmental importance.

Sector Plans Disaster Management Plan.

Strategies

The National Biodiversity Framework Provides biodiversity targets for South Africa.

National Water Resource Strategy Speaks to protection and rehabilitation of

wetlands.

Other

Bioregional plans (draft or gazetted) Maps Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) and

Ecological Support Areas (ESAs).


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Spatial Planning and Land Use Management

Act

Provides a framework for spatial planning and land use management in South Africa. It sets out in its definitions that municipal

planning is primarily the executive function of

the local sphere of government and requires

that biodiversity is adequately considered in

spatial planning.

Disaster Management Amendment Bill Outlines how ecosystems should be

considered in the updated Disaster

Management Act.

2.2 Wetland management within the municipality

The Environmental Resource Department in Ekurhuleni is dedicated to the protection of natural

resources, the department has five divisions: Strategic Planning, Infrastructure Planning and Co-

ordination, Environmental Protection and Resilience, Legislative Compliance and Environmental

Support Services. The Environmental Protection and Resilience Division is the division where

biodiversity and wetlands management staff are placed, below is the organogram of the

Environmental Protection and Resilience Division.

Figure 7: Organogram showing where the Wetlands division is situated with the EMM structure.


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The Wetlands Section of the municipality ensures the rehabilitation and maintenance, which

includes erecting gabion structures and weirs, clearing of litter, water hyacinth and other invasive

alien vegetation within waterbodies within Ekurhuleni. It consists of a Manager, one Senior

Environmental Officer, one Water Master Operator and eight Wetland Attendants.

The following are departments which are directly or indirectly involved/impact on wetlands:

Real Estates: Parks Division - responsible for the maintenance of all park areas within

Ekurhuleni. Environmental Resource Management department (ERM) normally works

closely with Parks division.

Human Settlements - responsible for the development of sustainable human settlement,

most of the low cost housing are developed close to wetlands and this results in most

wetlands being degraded, especially since they are used as dumping sites.

Roads and Storm water - responsible for development of roads and the management of

storm water. Majority of the roads which are developed cross through wetlands and

rivers, this leads to bridges being built, and due to insufficient maintenance of these

culverts they get blocked and cause flooding. Most of the Metro’s storm water discharges

into wetlands and rivers, during rainy season, the amount of water flowing into these

systems is higher which normally leads to flooding and erosion.

Water Services - responsible for the bulk supply of drinking water.

Disaster Management - responsible for the management of all disasters occurring within

the Metro.

Economic Development - responsible for local economic development, which includes

tourism.

Health and Social Development - responsible for the health and well-being of the

community.

Transport - responsible sustainable transport planning. Most major freeways pass

through Ekurhuleni and most industries are also situated within the Metro. During rainy

season, oils from the roads flows into the wetlands and streams which leads to pollution

of the said systems.

2.3 Local and regional partnerships and programmes managing

wetlands within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

Ekurhuleni has embarked on several wetland rehabilitation and maintenance projects, these

involve installation of weirs and gabions, eradication of IAPs lean-up and safe disposal of water

grass, hyacinth and Mexican lilies. Some of the wetlands where rehabilitation and maintenance is

on-going are the following: Germiston Lake, Boksburg Lake, Upper Rietvlei Wetlands, etc.

Rehabilitation of Kaalspruit wetland in Tembisa: stabilization and re-vegetation of stream banks

and installation of weirs and gabion structures

Rehabilitation of Natalspruit in Tembelisha: Vegetation, installation of weirs and gabions

structures

Controlled and managed Invasive alien at Benoni Lakes: Planned invasive alien management

programme to be completed at four lakes (Homestead, Civic, Middle and Kleinfontein).


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Invasive alien management of Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site: Planned invasive alien control; Aerial

spraying to be conducted twice a year. What is needed is a controlled scientific approach to

manage the phragmites and Typha capensis to improve water flow and the overall habitat

for the various bird species for their various habitat needs.

Murray Park upgrade: Construction of parking area, playground area, upgrade of ablutions,

landscaping. Upgrade infrastructure – water, electricity, sewerage

Ekurhuleni is in partnership with all the other spheres of government, especially DEA’s Working

for Wetlands programme.

3. DEVELOPING THE EKURHULENI WETLAND STRATEGY AND

ACTION PLAN

Prior to the development of a WSAP, it is critical to undertake an extensive and inclusive

stakeholder engagement process in order to gather all relevant information and inputs from key

stakeholder for populating the WSAP as well as ensuring critical stakeholder buy-in. In order to

achieve this, as part of the LAB: Wetlands SA project, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality located and engaged with key stakeholders. EMM

played the leading role in identifying and engaging with key stakeholders, who would both add

value as well as benefit from being a part of the WSAP process and project as a whole. ICLEI AS

engaged with various role players at national and provincial events, particularly the Gauteng

Wetlands Forum (GWF), which includes stakeholders from provincial, metropolitan governments

as well as private sector representatives. The GWF served as a unique platform to engage with a

multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary group, advocate for the project and EMM’s involvement and

create crucial external interest and buy-in towards ensuring the successful implementation of the

project.

In addition, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and EMM co-developed a Wetland Report

throughout the course of 2016. The Wetland Report was a desktop study and aimed to include all

the known information on wetlands within the municipality. One on one interviews were

undertaken with relevant stakeholders. Some of the key stakeholders included GDARD,

representatives from private sector such as River Watch, EMIFULA, and the Blesbokspruit

Conservation Trust. This set the scene for the final stakeholder engagement – the WSAP Workshop.

The Ekurhuleni WSAP Workshop was held in Benoni in October 2016. All stakeholders identified

during previous engagements were invited to attend. During the workshop feedback on the

findings of the Wetland Report were presented to the stakeholders, namely the critical

ecosystem services the wetlands within Ekurhuleni provide, the threats to these wetlands and

the gaps in wetland management. This set the scene for the development of the WSAP. The

WSAP is outlined below and includes all identified issues as well as proposed solutions as

developed by all stakeholders present at the WSAP workshop as well as those that contributed to

the Wetland Report.

E K U R H U L E N I M E T R O P O L I T A N M U N I C I P A L I T Y W E T L A N D S T R A T E G Y A N D A C T I O N P L A N 2 0 1 7 20

4. EKURHULENI METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY WETLAND STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN

(2017- 2022)

VISION STATEMENT

“Ekurhuleni celebrates the uniqueness of healthy wetlands for the benefit of water security, nature and people.”

VALUES

Scientific monitoring: based on credible science; scientific validation; reliable information to make informed decision; continual quality

monitoring; ethics of science and monitoring.

Participation and involvement of stakeholders: public participation; community centred; ownership; involvement and participation;

consultation; inclusive; stakeholder engagement.

Sustainability: Inclusive sustainability; sustainability.

Implementable: Must be implementable.

Regulation and enforcement: Regulated spaces; enforcement of relevant legislation to protect wetlands); protect and enhance natural

resources; commitment to protection healthy wetlands.

Integrated spatial planning: Integrated spaces; integrated, functional planning around wetlands; integrated spatial planning.

Participation and involvement of stakeholders: Public participation; community centred; ownership; involvement and participation;

consultation; inclusive; stakeholder engagement.

Ethical cooperative governance: Cooperative governance; governance; ethics; national, provincial and local policies.

Accountability, truth and integrity: Transparent; honesty; truthful; accountability; integrity; respect; in compliance with environmental

legislation; ethics of accountability and transparency; integrity and responsibility.


Positive attitude

Safe spaces for people: Accessible spaces; safe spaces; increased recreational parks and activities; protect human safety.

Biodiverse and healthy wetlands: Biodiversity; healthy wetland.

FOCUS AREAS (3 – 6 strategic interventions / priorities):

1. Monitoring, research and reporting: Monitor state of wetlands; constant/regular monitoring; continuously monitor quality of wetlands;

bench marking; determine present ecological and desired status; monitored awareness around communities; develop monitoring and

evaluation plan; water quality; scientific monitoring of wetlands; accurate scientific information; river health and biodiversity; monitoring to be

realistic to objectives; research and monitoring; ground truth – delineate wetlands; cultural value; partnerships with NGOs and business.

2. Compliance enforcement and pollution prevention: Compliance to requirements; enforcement of regulation; compliance with permit

discharge; fast tracking environmental authorisation; in-filling of wetlands; clear articulate legislation, policies and regulations; enforcement;

compliance enforcement; sewer spillage into wetlands; identify source of pollution; involve industry; prevention of pollution; pollution

prevention and remediation plan; policies; water pollution.

3. Education & awareness: Partnerships with NGPs & business; wetland awareness to the public; develop education & awareness programme as

part of WSAP; awareness; education – change behaviour; how to motivate public; environmental ambassadors through education; wetland

importance within the communities; environmental education about wetlands; value proposition of unique wetland biodiversity; create

ecological awareness; training; buy-in – political, community & all stakeholders.

4. Operational management plan: Develop a maintenance & rehabilitation operational plan; conservation & protection of wetlands; responsible

use; burning; in-fill; rehab of degraded wetlands; improved ecosystems; minimise threats; control alien invasive plants & overgrown vegetation

– reeds; implementation & action plan; extraction of wetland material; identify pilot projects for implementation; developmental plan;


infrastructure upgrades; partnerships with NGPs & business; job creation through rehabilitation; wetlands importance to community; eco-

tourism; marketing; cultural use; accessibility; develop program to attract tourism & use of open space; recreation

5. Stakeholder engagement: Working with other stakeholders; public participation; have public participation interventions; involvement; public

participation; involvement by all stakeholders; industrial involvement; stakeholder inclusiveness; community involvement in wetland

sustainability.

6. Resources & institutional collaboration: Involvement of relevant EMM metro-wide; working together; develop metro-wide wetlands

programme (integration); establish wetland task team; skills & other resources; responsible management; manpower; sufficient personnel to

implement; skills development; funding; budgetary constraints; competing community priorities for funding; resources; allocated dedicated

resources; budget; competent staff.

(S.M.A.R.T.) GOALS FOR EACH FOCUS AREA

FOCUS AREA 1:

Monitoring, research and

reporting

Goal 1.1: Determine ecological status of all wetlands within the EMM by Dec 2017.

Goal 1.2: Design and implement a wetland monitoring program by Dec 2018 and maintain on an ongoing basis

Goal 1.3: Develop a user-friendly database for reporting by Dec 2017.

Goal 1.4: Establish partnerships with research institutions to guide the monitoring program by Dec 2017

FOCUS AREA 2:

Compliance enforcement and

pollution prevention

Goal 2.1: Strengthen all EMM by-laws and policy frameworks on an ongoing basis.

Goal 2.2: Communicate compliance and pollution prevention requirements to all the relevant stakeholders on

an ongoing basis.

Goal 2.3: Design an enforcement and pollution prevention program by Dec 2018.

Goal 2.4: Build internal capacity to implement the enforcement program on an ongoing basis.

FOCUS AREA 3:

Education & awareness

Goal 3.1: Include wetlands in EMM environmental education plans by Dec 2017.

Goal 3.2: Develop a wetland communication plan by Dec 2017.

Goal 3.3: Implement the wetland EE and communication initiatives on an ongoing basis.


FOCUS AREA 4:

Operational management plan

Goal 4.1 Develop a structured wetland maintenance and rehabilitation plan for the top 10 critical wetlands

within EMM by Dec 2018.

Goal 4.2: Develop a job creation program linked to the wetland maintenance and rehabilitation plan by Dec

2019.

Goal 4.3: Develop land-use guidelines based on the wetland maintenance and rehabilitation plan by Dec 2019.

(Based on the ecological status of wetlands, accessibility, eco-tourism potential etc.).

FOCUS AREA 5:

Stakeholder engagement

Goal 5.1: Leverage sponsorship opportunities for the collaborative wetland platform in EMM on an ongoing

basis.

Goal 5.2: Identify and secure commitment within EMM to contribute to the collaborative wetland platform on

an ongoing basis.

Goal 5.3: Encourage industrial involvement and improve their environmental responsibility on an ongoing basis.

FOCUS AREA 6:

Resources & institutional

collaboration

Goal 6.1: Establish a multi-disciplinary (internal and external) wetland task team by Dec 2017.

Goal 6.2: Develop a skills + training profile for each post in the Natural Resource Management section by Dec

2018.

Goal 6.3: Develop a costing model for the wetlands rehabilitation and maintenance plan by Dec 2018.

HIGH LEVEL ACTION PLAN

FOCUS AREA & GOALS KEY ACTIONS

RESPONSIBILITY TIME FRAME

Focus Area 1: Monitoring, research and reporting.

Goal 1.1:

Determine ecological status of all wetlands within the EMM

by Dec 2017.

Design specifications for the appointment

of an appropriate service provider

(ecologist).

Ascertain and allocate budget.

Environmental

Resource

Management

Department

1 year





Appoint service provider.

Review of the EMM Wetland Inventory

and Report.

Identify gaps and missing information.

Create a metro-wide ground-truthed

wetland map.

Ekurhuleni

Metropolitan

Municipality

6 months

Goal 1.2:

Design and implement a wetland monitoring program by

Dec 2018 and maintain on an ongoing basis

Identify key parameters and indicators.

Conduct monthly monitoring.

Identify appropriate instruments (e.g. pH

of water, metering, and electrical

conductivity).

Identify potential research partners (e.g.

relevant Universities).

Set benchmarking targets and indicators.

Department: Water

and Sanitation

EMM

Universities

1 year

Ongoing

Goal 1.3:

Develop a user-friendly database for reporting by Dec

2017.

Explore different options of software

database management systems.

procure

Conduct training of relevant personnel on

operation of the database.

Report to the various relevant

stakeholders.

EMM: ERMD

1 year





Focus Area 2: Compliance enforcement and pollution prevention.

Goal 2.1:

Strengthen all EMM by-laws and policy frameworks on an

ongoing basis.

Review of EMM by-laws and policy

frameworks to include wetland related

compliance requirements (i.e. relevant

policies, regulations, plans and

programs).

EMM: ERMD 1 year

Goal 2.2:

Communicate compliance and pollution prevention

requirements to all the relevant stakeholders on an

ongoing basis.

Share public participation programs and

procedures (through relevant forums,

news-letters, and media platforms, EMM

Communications Department.

Effective communication of

environmental calendar (i.e. World

Wetlands Day).

EMM: ERMD,

Communications

Dept.

1 year

Goal 2.3:

Design an enforcement and pollution prevention program

by Dec 2018.

Job profiling

Skills auditing

Appointments

Ascertain and identify industries

impacting (discharging/polluting)

wetlands.

Investigate possibilities of enforcement

(penalties).

EMM: ERMD, Human

Resource Dept.

6 months





Focus Area 3: Education & awareness

Goal 3.1

Include wetlands in EMM environmental education plans

by Dec 2017.

Identify the number of stakeholders

conducting enviro education (database).

Review education plans, align with and

improve where necessary.

Blesbokspruit Trust

EMM: ERMD

6 months

Goal 3.2

Develop a wetland communication plan by Dec 2017.

Goal 3.3

Implement the wetland EE and communication initiatives

on an ongoing basis.

Ascertain the general understanding and

awareness regarding wetlands.

Establish links with the Gauteng

Education Dept.

Develop a historical report on wetlands in

the municipality.

Train communities (Ward level) and the

private sector.

Develop wetland education curriculum

for adults.

Gauteng Education

Dept.

EMM: ERMD

1 year

Focus Area 4: Operational management plan.

Goal 4.1

Develop a structured wetland maintenance and

rehabilitation plan (WMRP) for the top 10 critical wetlands

within Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

Develop a wetland maintenance and

rehabilitation plan for the municipality.

Develop a list of the top 10 prioritised

wetlands within the municipality.

Director 3 years





Allocate resources in terms of priority of

wetlands requiring attention and

intervention.

Goal 4.2

Develop a job creation program linked to the wetland

maintenance and rehabilitation plan by Dec 2019.

Establish the resources and skills

required.

Follow the relevant procedure to appoint

suitable and qualifying candidate/s.

Monitor performance of appointee/s as

per the WMRP.

Develop a detailed plan/s for eco-tourism

routes.

Publish regular articles (as per

appropriate communication methods).

Involve EMM Marketing Dept.

Manager: Natural

Resources

Management section

EMM: ERMD,

Marketing and

Tourism Depts.

3 years

1 year

Goal 4.3

Develop land-use guidelines based on the wetland

maintenance and rehabilitation plan by Dec 2019. (Based

on the ecological status of wetlands, accessibility, eco-

tourism potential etc.).

Ascertain land ownership (public or

private).

Ensure integration and overlap with the

EMM Spatial Development Framework.

Identify the appropriate land-uses.

Manager: Natural

Resources

Management section

3 years

Focus Area 5: Stakeholder engagement

Goal 5.1 Develop a model/guide for sponsorship. Identified leader

within EMM: ERMD

February

2017





Leverage sponsorship opportunities for the collaborative

wetland platform in EMM on an ongoing basis.

Investigate possible sponsorship

opportunities.

February

2017

Goal 5.2

Identify and secure commitment within EMM to contribute

to the collaborative wetland platform on an ongoing basis.

Establish an EMM Wetland Forum.

Identify community leaders to be part of

Wetland Task Team.

Identified leader

within EMM: ERMD

On-going

Goal 5.3

Encourage industrial involvement and improve their

environmental responsibility on an ongoing basis.

Target 10 industries to use as pilot (small,

medium and large).

Engage with and educate relevant

industries.

Encourage corporate social responsibility:

o Implement

national/international

tools/standards (i.e. Polluter

Pays Principle)

Measure outcomes of improvement (e.g.

draft an Environmental Performance

report).

EMM: ERMD

GDARD

On-going

Focus Area 6: Resources & institutional collaboration

Goal 6.1

Establish a multi-disciplinary (internal and external)

wetland task team by Dec 2017.

Identify relevant stakeholders.

Establish a formal nomination system for

task team members.

Develop a terms of reference.

Manager: Natural

Resource

Management section

1 year





Appoint the task team.

Goal 6.2

Develop a skills + training profile for each post in the

Natural Resource Management section by Dec 2018.

Job profile for established post.

Skills analysis to meet expectations of the

job profile/s.

Identify/develop specific training

program.

Director 1 year

Goal 6.3

Develop a costing model for the wetlands rehabilitation

and maintenance plan by Dec 2018.

Create a list of planned rehabilitation and

maintenance activities.

Appoint a relevant specialist.

Use results from costing model to

influence budget allocation.

Director 3 years


2 0 1 7 30

FOOTNOTES

1 National Biodiversity Assessment, 2011

2 Per comms with Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN) in February 2016.

3 Images courtesy of Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN)

4 Ollis, D; Snaddon, K; Job, N and Mbona, N (2013) “SANBI Classification System for Wetlands and

other Aquatic Ecosystems in South Africa”.

5 Per comms with Mbali Kubheka (DEA: Working for Wetlands Programme, KZN) in February 2016.

6 Image sourced from Ollis, D., Snaddon, K., Job, N. and Mbona, N. 2013. “SANBI Classification

System for Wetlands and other Aquatic Ecosystems in South Africa”

7 Russi D., ten Brink P., Farmer A., Badura T., Coates D., Förster J., Kumar R. and Davidson N. (2013)

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands. IEEP, London and

Brussels; Ramsar Secretariat, Gland.

8 EMM Wetland Inventory, 2007

9 SANBI. 2011. National Biodiversity Assessment.

wetland strategy and action plan (2017- 2022) local action

Documents