Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

(a) (i) On 3 June 2025, CapeNature issued a formal notice of its intention to terminate the existing management agreement with the Cape Piscatorial Society (CPS) via email. Following receipt of this notice, CPS requested a meeting, which was convened on 1 September 2025 at CapeNature’s Cape Town offices.  CapeNature indicated its willingness to receiving revised proposals from the CPS having outlined and discussed the key challenges at length during the engagement on 1 September, however, no such proposals from the Society have been submitted to date, notwithstanding CPS’s undertaking to provide them. Despite having reached an agreed way forward during this engagement, CPS has initiated administrative action against CapeNature.

(ii) No timeframes were defined between the parties however CPS gave a commitment to CapeNature that revised proposals would be sent through soon after the meeting held on 1 September 2025. CapeNature has not received any proposals to date.

2. (i) Other than the consultation on 1 September 2025, CapeNature and CPS have not had any further in person engagements on the matter. 

(ii) The following key issues were discussed:

• The historic agreement with the CPS allowed their members exclusive use of the rivers (Cape Streams) at Limietberg Nature Reserve. This causes conflict between user groups as Limietberg Nature Reserve has many trails bordering the rivers and CapeNature cannot deny other day users’ access to the river systems. Reflecting on CapeNature’s values, it would be unfavourable for CapeNature to grant exclusive use of a resource to a specific user group. In the 5-year Strategic Plan, the Entity has placed an emphasis on inclusion and access for all user groups, placing a strong focus on a community centred approach.
• Due to the Entity changing financial systems a few years ago, the CPS payments could not initially be located. Following the letter being issued to the CPS, CapeNature managed to track the payments and this matter was resolved during the engagement on 1 September 2025. The percentage paid to CapeNature was also discussed and needed to be reviewed.
• CapeNature is still in process of gathering scientific information for all these sites, however, initial research suggests that Rainbow Trout and Black Bass negatively affect the indigenous and endangered Giant redfin. According to the State of Protected Areas Report compiled in 2025, the conservation of indigenous fish species must be prioritised to prevent further decline of the population. Due to the status of trout and CapeNature’s primary responsibility towards improving the biological integrity of the indigenous system, together with our mandate as a conservation agency, CapeNature no longer supports catch-and-release in these river systems and has taken the decision to prioritise indigenous species.
• The historic agreement between CapeNature and CPS allowed CPS to manage, and issue permits on CapeNature’s behalf, having prerequisites linked to the CPS membership. CapeNature has since equipped itself to issue permits directly to clients and all user groups and has begun implementing this.