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The historical Battle of Muizenberg site was cleared of invasive alien vegetation on Friday 1 April as part of the City’s Biodiversity Management’ Invasive Species programme.
Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment, visited the site in Muizenberg.
“I was fascinated by the clearing process and watching the team do it, made me realise what a responsibility it is to keep the invasive plants out.”
With no natural predators invasive plants can spread rapidly. “Other invasive species are an eyesore, nobody likes a dense stand of Port Jackson trees that also poses a fire risk.”
The alien clearing will expose more of the stone breastworks associated with the Battle of Muizenberg which took place in 1795 when the British first invaded the Cape under Admiral Elphinstone.
“These stone structures were constructed in some haste when the Dutch East India Company (VOC) got word that the English fleet was threatening to land in False Bay instead of Table Bay, which was well protected by a number of forts and fortifications. The fortifications were improved in the early 19th century with a gun emplacement on the site of Bailey’s Cottage. When the coastal boardwalk was built, a number of unused cannon balls were recovered,” said Andrews.
An invasive species does not have natural predators and can cause harm to the environment, economy or affect people’s health.
“It is important that we do this because alien vegetation can have devastating impacts on the environment and lead to serious repercussions for humans. Plant invasions alter ecosystems, as well as important natural processes such as fire frequency, nutrient cycling, erosion, hydrologic cycles and sediment deposition, which, in turn, result in significant negative environmental, and therefore socio-economic impacts for both current and future generations,” said Andrews.
The City is in the process of investigating the formal heritage protection of the site of the Battle of Muizenberg. “The site contains not only the remnants of the stone breastworks but also archaeological deposits associated with indigenous groups who lived in and around the False Bay area prior to the establishment of the VOC outpost and anchorage at Simon’s Town in 1743.”
