Ward councillor answers to baboon saga questions

Update

KNYSNA NEWS – The KPH front page feature at the end of last month on the problems some of Knysna's eastern suburbs are experiencing with baboons, elicited extensive attention with pro and anti-factions at each other's throats. (Some individuals even made the newspaper and/or journalist the target of their outrage for reporting on the controversy.)

The fact is that hundreds of Knysnarians are being adversely affected by the primates in their suburbs and no amount of statements such as "the baboons were there first and if residents don't like it they should simply leave" will solve the problem.

Many residents are authentic animal lovers, but are at their wit's end and feel like prisoners in their own homes.

The majority also believe it is the duty of the municipality to take more decisive action and local government representatives such as the DA's Sharon Sabbagh have come under fire.

We include Sabbagh's answers to questions concerning the issue posed by KPH with retorts from community representatives Mark Sasman and Richard Thorpe.

1. It is claimed that when you started out as councillor of Ward 9, you stated that should anyone incur any damages during baboon-related attacks or incidents, they can contact you or the municipality and arrange for the municipality to reimburse that individual. However, residents claim this commitment has not been honoured. Why is this?

I started out as Ward 9 Councillor following the by-election held in November 2020. On 25 March 2021, I circulated a digital flyer to residents of Hunters Home, Rexford and Pezula which read as follows:
"Insurance claims for damage caused by baboons must be submitted to your personal householders insurance. When doing so please copy the claim to the Knysna Municipality thereby notifying them of a potential claim due to excesses and amounts that may not be covered. Please copy me and Richard Thorpe in on the correspondence."

Mark Sasman - There have been claims and shortfalls sent, one of which I sent my dog's vet bills for a baboon injury. Zero response on that to date and that was over six months ago. Nobody I know who have sent responses to KM have had acknowledgement or consideration.

2. When you were elected as councillor of the ward, and I'm sure even prior to that, you were placed on various WhatsApp groups that aim to monitor baboon sightings and attacks in the areas. These groups are vital for communication of the problem/s. Why have you since departed these groups?

I was first elected as Ward 9 Councillor after winning the by-election in Nov 2020 and again when I won the ward after the elections in Nov 2021. I am on numerous WhatsApp groups in Ward 9, but in terms of baboons I am on the following WhatsApp groups, having joined or removed / left on the dates stated:

- Baboon Reporting joined 12 February (created 1 February) and still on this group

- HRF Baboon Talk created on and added 9 July 2021 and removed on 7 April

- HRF Matters created and added on 25 April and still on this group

- HRF Baboon Sightings created and added on 5 May 2021 and I left on 27 March

Mark Sasman - As far as I know Sabbagh was on Baboon Sightings, Baboon Issues and HRF Ward 9 Information groups relevant to this issue and left all due to criticism 'abuse'.

3. A Ward 9 committee meeting was held recently, on 26 May I believe. During this meeting the severity of the problems was once again brought forward and you were urged to present the problems to Council. However, according to attendees of the meeting you shrugged this off by saying you could never present this to council as it will be laughed out by council members as there are more pressing matters in town to deal with. Why and how could you make this statement considering how adversely these residents are being affected by the problem?

3.1. You need only go back and listen to some of the council meetings where baboon issues and related budget requirements etc are discussed to understand why taking this to council will achieve very little. There is no need for this issue to appear before Council, but rather to address these issues with the relevant departments, being Environment, Law Enforcement, Parks, Waste management, Fire emergency and the municipal manager.

Mark Sasman - Not true. In a meeting with the then AMM in which Richard Thorpe and Councillor Sabbagh and others were present it was stated by the AMM with agreement from Sabbagh that the NCC report needs to be considered by Council and that this would be tabled in a few weeks at latest. Post this she stated it would not be tabled due to being considered frivolous and on the 28th of June she stated in response to the matter that 'administration can make decisions on this matter without going to council'.

Richard Thorpe - It is interesting that in 2015/2016 when we compiled the first Knysna Baboon Management Plan, it went to Council for approval which it was given. The reason I wanted it to go to Council was that I wanted it to be very clear what the responsibilities of the municipality, CapeNature and the residents were and that Council were in agreement therewith.

3.2. The Environmental, Law Enforcement, Parks, Waste and Fire departments have all attended to site meetings on numerous occasions as well as meetings with myself and the municipal manager(s).

3.3. It has been agreed that alien vegetation and overgrowth needs cutting back/clearing and fire breaks maintained, which commenced last year and is again currently being attended to.

Mark Sasman - A very few alien species trees and shrubs were cut initially and then all work ceased – I have not seen any recommencement.

Richard Thorpe - There is a big difference between 'cutting back' and 'firebreaks'. What we need is a firebreak so that if a fire breaks out the fire brigade can gain access to the fire rather than us watching our houses burn.

3.4. Law enforcement has stationed monitors in Rexford/Hunters Home, armed with paintball guns and cellphones, area placed on the relevant WhatsApp group ensuring they are in constant contact with residents' sightings of the baboons.

3.5. Waste Management has issued baboon-proof bins to residents, and changed the refuse collection days from a busy Wednesday to a quieter Friday, to ensure refuse collection takes place first thing in the morning.

Mark Sasman - The advert re baboon-proof bins does not reflect the reality as there are many including myself who applied through those channels and never got. The mechanisms do not last either and many residents have expressed disappointment in this function.

Richard Thorpe - First, I drove the change of refuse collection day with the Manager: Solid Waste. Moreover I also supplied a map of the incursion points and subsequent baboon movements. I also supplied him with a route map for the refuse truck that collected waste from the highest impact areas first but was one continuous route that avoided going up and down the same street.

4. What steps are you, as a councillor, actually taking to mitigate these baboon problems?

I drove the following initiatives:

To roll out baboon-proof bins to homes in the affected area.
To change refuse collection to a quieter day thereby ensuring refuse is collected first thing in the day.
To cut back vegetation and maintain firebreaks between Pezula/Rexford/Hunters Home.

Richard Thorpe - Disagree - the initial drive to cut back the vegetation for a firebreak was co-ordinated by residents, environmental management and the community services department.

Engaged with Human Wildlife Solutions and National Conservancy Corporation – which proved extremely difficult, due to the social media outcry when the municipality applied for a RFQ for a professional hunter, which application was done to ensure the permit was in place should the experts determine the need to "remove" a baboon or more.

Richard Thorpe - The two HWS persons were driven around the area by Steven Langlands and myself - Langlands took the head ranger and I the director. In my memory Sharon Sabbagh joined us later for a meeting. If anything I would say Langlands and I drove these initiatives with your [Sabbagh's] involvement.

To fly a drone over the area to determine how many troops and the number of baboons per troop
To engage with Pezula Golf Estate Homeowners Association, with the view to enter into a MOU with Knysna Municipality with regards to the management of the baboons on the estate, this in an attempt to keep the baboons away from the residential suburbs of Rexford and Hunters Home.

Mark Sasman - We were told the MOU was to train the muni monitors. Nothing else. No input from affected area residents. No MOU has been made available.

To ensure budget allocation for "baboon deterrent equipment" in the 2022/23 financial year.

Mark Sasman - That was the result of Richard's and my own input and follow-up with Steven Langlands against a potential sonic deterrent device. That manufacturer has yet to come to the party or actively engage the KM or ourselves.