FRIENDS OF DIE OOG

Newsletter, August 2025

Water levels have risen substantially since mid-June

Winter rains

Winter of 2023 was an exceptionally wet year. 2024 and 2025 to date, commenced with rainfall similar to the years of the 2015-1017 drought, however 2024 picked up and plateaued from September to levels similar to the cumulative high of 2023. Mid to late June rainfall to date shows a trend very similar to that of last year, so we expect overflow of the weir again, which is beneficial to the wetland area leading away from Die Oog into the greenbelt.

Source: CSAG UCT

Over-growth of the Kariba weed or algae impacted key indicators such as Chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, un-ionised ammonia and E.coli, with some spikes outside of acceptable limits during the dry seasons of end 2023 and 2024. These indicators are all within acceptable limits now.

See Water sampling result dashboards for Die Oog and other inland water bodies here

A beautiful day for an Annual General Meeting

The AGM was held outdoors under the trees at Die Oog on a beautiful sunny morning on 15 March 2025. It is a great opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of shaping the future of Die Oog. Members and children were welcome to receive an update on the CoCT’s engagement and maintenance plan for Die Oog, the financial standing of FoDO and plans for community involvement & future projects.

Speaker Mea Lashbrooke, a Bergvliet resident, active member of FODO and WESSA, and part of the Zandvlei Catchment Management Forum, shared her extensive knowledge of the challenges in keeping our local catchment areas clean and healthy. Mea explained how Die Oog and surrounding waterways face ongoing pressure from pollution, sewage spills, and urban waste, and highlighted how the City and community groups are working together to monitor water quality, upgrade ageing sewer systems, restore wetlands, and encourage residents to help protect these vital ecosystems.

What can you do to keep local catchment areas clean and healthy?

  • Avoid illegal dumping.
  • Report leaks and pollution to the City.
  • Join local clean-ups and eco-projects.
  • For urgent reports, use the City of Cape Town’s website and C3 Service.
Mea’s message was clear: Everyone has a role to play in keeping our rivers, vleis and wetlands healthy.

Friends of Die Oog committee members at the AGM

Maintenance – working with the City of Cape Town

An important aspect of our role as Friends of Die Oog (FODO) is to engage with the city council and relevant organisations like WESSA for the overall maintenance and improvement of our beautiful City.

Representatives from the City of Cape Town (CoCT) Catchment, Stormwater & River Management Team spent a week from 18 February clearing the invasive Kariba weed and algae from Die Oog. It’s a fast-growing invasive plant that covers the entire surface of the pond, obstructing sunlight from penetrating the water column and impacting dissolved oxygen levels.

After more than a week of eradication by boat and from shore, the weed had been removed. It did, however, start spreading again a couple of months later and will require monitoring to ensure that it does not completely take over again.

The council recently did a mass intake of temporary EPWP staff in the conservation department for the City. The ward councillor identified Die Oog and the Meadowridge common as areas for seven days of work before the financial year end. Nic Herrmann, the PM for the city, ran the project with the objective of collecting litter and removing alien invasive plants. The team tackled the floating Kariba weed where they could reach it along the bank, cleared leaves from the weir, and also tackled litter down by the stormwater catchment towards the M3.

The photo below shows bags of litter and biomass collected on the first day of work.

From left to right: Mieshka Titus, Steven Borchardt, Nafisa Frederick,Tatum Adams and Carmen Abrahams.
Not in picture: Mizaan Palmer and Pouchea Hector.

 

       

Clearing of the wetland and a potential new fence are long-term projects we need to address.  The fence securing Die Oog from Midwood avenue road has become rusty at base. Part of the fence was raised to create a gap and was fixed temporarily by committee members, but we would like the city council to replace it when budgets allow.

 

Making a difference for Youth Day

A Youth Day cleanup event, organised by Ward 73, was held at Die Oog on the morning of Monday 30th June. A development team travelled from Steurhof Hall to Die Oog where they were welcomed by Eddie Andrews. A Parks and Recreation clean-up activity ensued, thereafter returning to Steurhof Hall, where they enjoy a Youth Day quiz & games.

Youth Day clean-up group

Expecting the Western Leopard Toads

It’s that time of year again! Please drive with care on the roads around these wetland areas, especially at night when they are most active.

Membership helps us to keep supporting Die Oog

We rely heavily on subscriptions and donations, so please feel free to extend an invite to family and friends who may join as well. Annual family membership is only R100. Any additional donations go a long way to help us cover the rising costs of maintenance and the ability to employ a new gardener for Die Oog.

An order for 30 cards was made in March. This goes a long way towards additional funding. Please drop us an email to admin@dieoog.org.za if you’d like to purchase a pack of cards. All proceeds are shared between the artist and maintenance and upkeep of the garden areas at Die Oog.

 

We rely heavily on subscriptions and donations, so please extend an invite to any newcomers to the area, family and friends. Annual family membership is only R100. Any additional donations go a long way to help us cover the rising costs of maintenance and we may then be able to employ a new gardener for Die Oog.

Please drop us an email to admin@dieoog.org.za if you’d like to purchase a pack of cards. All proceeds are shared between the artist and maintenance and upkeep of the garden areas at Die Oog.

 

Please support die Oog by ordering some notelets
R60 for a set of 3 with envelopes

 

PLEASE NOTE
Gate times are daily from
6:30am to 6:30pm. 

If you are unsure of your current membership status please email us at admin@dieoog.org.za.  Please click on this link for membership renewal or donations or to update your beneficiary details.

Please email us at admin@dieoog.org.za for any questions or if you’d like a copy of the minutes of the AGM or the financial report.

Best regards from all of us on the Friends of Die Oog committee

Best Regards

Keryn Tsimitakopoulos

Committee member of Friends of Die Oog