Page 14 - Landscape SA 97

FEATURE

Signage at the entrance to the nature reserve

RAND WATER NATURE CENTRE

AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL RUINS

The Rand Water head office, situated in Glenvista south of Johannesburg, is surrounded by
approximately 170 ha of nature reserve dating back to 1750. As the owner and custodian
of the reserve, Rand Water is responsible for its conservation and management. The
historic ruins of settlements on the reserve are considered to be of archaeological value
and importance in preserving South Africa’s cultural heritage.

ith conservation in mind, two Leslie Hoy. Rand Water is responsible for all dating back to the Late Iron Age. These
plans were prepared a few the ongoing implementation of both sites comprise the remains of stone-
Wyears ago: an archaeological plans. walled settlements believed to have been
management plan and a wildlife/ occupied by the Sotho-Tswana people;
vegetation management plan, both Archaeological plan the layout of the kraals is typically Sotho-
undertaken by UNISA’s Applied Tswana, as confirmed by archaeologists
Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem This document entailed a cultural heritage who have surveyed the ruins.
Research Unit (ABEERU) on behalf of resources management plan for the
Rand Water’s EMS division (Environmental Rietvlei Nature Reserve, and included Guidelines comprised basic conservation
Management Services), headed up by eight archaeological sites on the reserve, principles to be used in managing the
resources.

The terms of reference for UNISA’s
study were to:
• visit the archaeological and cultural
sites at the reserve;
• assess their significance in terms of their
archaeological, historical, scientific,
social, religious, aesthetic and tourism
value;
• review applicable legislative
requirements; and
• write a management plan for the
cultural heritage resources at the Rietvlei
Nature Reserve, including the necessary
guidelines and recommendations to
A thatched lapa used during school educational visits as an outdoor enable Rand Water to manage these
classroom. A Burchell’s zebra grazes nearby. properly.

12 Landscape SA • Issue 97 2020