Motion to lift fishing ban at dam

Sonstraal Dam could soon be open to fishing, following a proposal by a ward councillor at last week’s sub-council meeting.

The sub-council supported the motion by Ward 21’s Taki Amira for City Parks to do a survey on the possibility of lifting a moratorium on fishing at the dam.

Mr Amira said fishing had been permitted at the dam in the 1980s under the then Durbanville municipality, and people had needed an annual fresh-water licence from Cape Nature and a day fishing permit from the municipal office at a nominal fee.

But a moratorium had been placed on fishing at all dams in the northern suburbs during the late 1990s, due to the social and ecological problems caused by angling, including pollution, injury to water birds (by line and hooks), littering and anti-social behaviour.

Door de Kraal dam in Ward 70 was the only dam where fishing was still allowed with strict rules, Mr Amira said.

Mr Amira said a Sonstraal resident had asked him recently if fishing was allowed as people had started fishing at the dam.

In his motion, Mr Amira asked that City Parks conduct the survey; and, if results showed that the moratorium be lifted, to advise how and under what conditions fishing would be allowed. It should report back to sub-council in January.

“I believe that fresh-water fishing is a healthy outdoor hobby and goes a long way for parents bonding with their little ones,” he said.

Sub-council also supported a motion by Ward 105 councillor Ruan Beneke for the proposed rezoning and selling of Erf 6823 (private land) and Erf 425-RE (a public road reserve) in Vierlanden.

Mr Beneke said council need access to water and sanitation services and access to the R300 reserve at the back of Jagger Street via Erf 425-RE and Erf 6823 for emergency services, and the SA National Roads Agency Ltd needed access for maintenance.

Mr Beneke said the consolidation of the two pieces of land would create a property that could be rezoned and sold for the development of five to eight residential units with an access service road being retained to the R300 reserve for maintenance and emergency purposes.