General Information | Weed control in Tshwane

(Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 1983, and amended regulations 15 and 16 as pomulgated in March 2001)

Declared weeds and plants have been divided into 3 categories:

Category 1: Declared weeds

These are plants that must be controlled (removed) on land or water surfaces by all land users. These plants may no longer be planted or propagated and all trade in their seeds, cuttings or any other propagation material is prohibited.

Category 1 plants include:

Category 2: Declared invaders (plants with commercial value)

These are invader plants that pose a threat to the environment but nevertheless can be exploited for timber, fruits, fuel wood, medicinal plants, animal fodder, building material or shelter of to stabilise soil. These species are only allowed to occur in demarcated areas. If the plants are used for commercial purposes, landusers have to obtain a water use licence as these plants consume large volumes of water. Where plants occur outside demarcated areas they have to be removed.

Category 2 plants include:

Category 3: Declared invaders (plants with ornamental value)

These are plants that have the potential of becoming invasive but are considered to have ornamental value. In terms of Regusltaion 15 of CARA, these plants will not be allowed to occur anywhere except in biological control reserves unless they were already in existence when these regulations came into effect (30 March 2001). This means that existing plants do not have to be removed by the landuser, however they must be kept under control and no new planting may be initiated and the plants may no longer be sold.

Category 3 plants include:

What are invasive alien plants?

Invasive alien plants are plants that have been brought to South Africa from other countries for their beauty, economic value or ecological purpose. Some are brought in unintentionally and here, without their natural enemies, are able to reproduce and spread prolifically.

The plants or seeds enter the country in a number of different ways: for example on people`s shoes, tents, by mail order on ships, planes. Even animals that cross the borders can bring seeds in. The invader plants and seeds spread rapidly and take up the growing space of our own indigenous plants.

Invasive alien plants threatens the indigenous vegetation as they use up valuable and limited water resources. Most of them drink more water than indigenous plants and are depleting the valuable underground water resources. Many invasive plants are also responsible for causing exceptionally hot fires and affects the makeup of soil structure.

What can I do?

• Learn how to identify and control (remove) Invasive Alien Plants.
• Join or form a hacking team to remove invaders from your area.
• Remove invasive plants while they are still small.
• Plant indigenous (local) plants in your garden.
• Buy only indigenous plants from your nursery.
• Replace invasive alien plants with an indigenous plant.
• Tell people about the dangers of invasive alien plants.

The negative impact of weeds and invader plants

Weeds and invader plants are associated with the following negative impacts.

• Compete with the agricultural environment
• Impact negatively on natural vegetation
• Displace indigenous plants and animals
• Increase the severity of fire
• Consume more water than the indigenous plants and therefore lead to the loss of water in catchments
• Cause obstructions, erosion and increase flood damage.

Control methods:

When controlling weeds and invader plants in areas where they are not allowed in terms of Regulation 15 of CARA, control methods should be used that are appropriate for the species concerned, as well as for the ecosystem in which they occur.

One or a combination of the following control methods may be used: uprooting, felling, cutting, burning, treament with registered herbicides, biological control or any other recognised and appropriate method. Repetitive follow-up operations are very important and necessary to achieve control.

Biological control is the use of host-specific natural enemies such as insects or disease-causing micro-organisms to reduce the invasiveness of alien plants. Before introducing agents, scientists first test these natural enemies from the plant`s country of origin extensively under quarantine conditions to ensure that they will not damage crops or other plants in South Africa.

Alternative species to replace weeds and invaders

Each of the species in Categories 1 - 3 can be replaced by a less invasive plant species, either indigenous or alien. Ensure that you buy from a nursery that adheres to CARA regulations, and encourages the use of indigenous plants and waterwise gardening. Various books on waterwise gardening and declared weeds and invader plants are available.

More information can be obtained from:
http://www.agis.agric.za/agisweb/wip
http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/landcare/landcare.htm

Weedbuster hotline: 0800 005 376.

Information courtesy of Landcare South Africa, Department: Agriculture

Click on images to view enlargement

1. Bugweed (Solanum Mauritianum)



 
2. Cat`s claw creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati)



 
3. Giant reed (Arundo donax) (Spaansriet)



 
4. Lantana (Lantana Camara)



 
5. Moth catcher (Araujia sericifera)



 
6. Oleander (Selonsroos) (Nerium oleander)



 
7. Pom pom weed (Campuloclinium macrocephalum)



 
8. Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) (various species)



 
9. Queen of the night (Cereus jamacaru)



 
10. Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)



 
11. Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana)



 

Weed control personnel in Tshwane: