The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is facing mounting criticism over the deteriorating condition of its internal road network.
Photographer and nature enthusiast Erhard Kruger recently highlighted the issue after a visit to the reserve, expressing alarm over the extensive potholes and disintegrated tar roads that hinder both conservation efforts and visitor experiences.
“I visited Rietvlei Nature Reserve, and the tar roads are in a shocking condition due to numerous potholes and the road having disintegrated completely in patches,” Kruger reported.
He said he is unable to pursue his hobby of taking photographs at Rietvlei as a result.
Kruger pointed out specific problem areas within the reserve.
North Road across Otter Bridge is closed, which he pointed out is likely due to numerous potholes developing over the last year.
According to him, Vleiroete Road, east of Vlei Bridge, has numerous large and deep potholes, with the road disintegrating. Main Road, just before the stream near the turnoff to Quarry Road, is also marred by large potholes, forcing motorists to drive on the left to avoid damage.
He is also frustrated with the entrance roads to the reserve being riddled with potholes.
While recent heavy rains have exacerbated road damage, Kruger emphasised that the deterioration is not a new development.
“The people responsible may now have the excuse that this is due to the heavy rains this year. But the truth is that the potholes have been developing over the last couple of years without any maintenance being done whatsoever,” he stated.
“Rietvlei Nature Reserve is an asset and a source of income for Pretoria, but the condition of the roads is a disgrace.”
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, maintenance at Rietvlei is conducted annually every winter after the rainy season, when the roads have dried out sufficiently.
Tar roads are patched with hot and cold asphalt from internal stores, and gravel roads are graded. The last comprehensive maintenance was done in 2010, involving the resurfacing of some portions of the tarred roads.
He said the city has initiated a procurement process to acquire services for road maintenance and plans to continue annual operational maintenance.
However, the reserve receives the same attention as other city infrastructure, with urgent maintenance issues addressed based on available resources.
“The heavy rains have had a significant impact on the roads within the reserve. Maintenance and repair are undertaken when the roads are dry enough to work on, within the context of available resources. Future weather-related impacts will be addressed on an ad-hoc basis, as they are unpredictable,” said Mashigo.
According to him, the metro has a standard operating procedure in place for flooding and other natural disasters, which applies to nature reserves as well.
While the exact portion of the municipal budget allocated to the maintenance of the reserve annually was not specified by Mashigo, the metro is exploring alternative funding models for infrastructure development and maintenance through partnerships with the private sector.
“There are no major impacts related to the state of roads in nature reserves on the metro’s conservation and biodiversity management efforts,” said Mashigo.
He pointed out that visitors driving around and beyond barricades to access closed roads often get stuck in the muddy terrain outside the designated functional roads, causing damage to both the vehicles and the surrounding veld.
He confirmed that closed roads will be reopened as soon as they are safe to travel on again, and any closures are to be communicated to visitors from the Cashier’s Office.
He added that community involvement plays a role in maintenance efforts within the reserve.
“The Friends of Rietvlei, a volunteer group supported by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, is involved in maintenance efforts in the reserve. Interested individuals are encouraged to join the Friends of Rietvlei to get involved in the reserve’s upkeep,” suggested Mashigo.
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