A wetland rich in history runs through the Cape Flats. Legend dictates that a Khoi princess was abducted here by Portuguese sailors. Her tears ran into the marsh, which was named Princess Vlei after the tale. Flowing through Grassy Park, the site’s vital to all who’ve lived near its banks. During apartheid, it was one of the few recreational spaces for people of colour. Today, the wetlands are still an essential part of the community, and at the forefront of protecting it is Denisha Anand.
As the biodiversity manager of Princess Vlei, she ensures its conservation. Anand classifies the wetlands as a biocultural landscape – one that is both valuable for its cultural heritage and ecological wealth. People swim, fish, and braai here, and the vlei’s social importance has been passed on through generations. When developers announced plans to build a shopping mall on the wetlands, the community fought back. Princess Vlei is now a protected biodiversity site that Anand oversees. While alien plants took over at one stage, the vlei is flourishing again under her guidance. This year, Anand and volunteers planted over 1 000 indigenous plants. Endangered plant and animal species such as the Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and western leopard toad are also preserved here.
With a five-year restoration plan, Anand is returning Princess Vlei to its natural state. “It’s an opportunity to get people from the local communities trained in conservation,” Anand says. To build a connection with nature, she also runs her own project, the Guardians of Princess Vlei. Anand educates students from Lotus High School, training them to be custodians of the wetlands. “It brings me joy to see a green space rehabilitated,” she says. Today, a new legend is sprouting – of a community that united to save Princess Vlei and its heritage.
Please sign in to leave a comment