| CHAIRMANÆS
REPORT: Annual General Meeting û 2 May 1998 Dear Members It is my privilege to report on our activities over the past year. It was once again a year with great highlights and few disappointments! Firstly, I shall convey the progress that we have made as far as our mission and action goals are concerned. Secondly, I shall report on events where we were involved. I shall reply briefly on our financial position and ask the meetingÆs permission for some minor amendments of our constitution. Lastly, I shall give a short prospective for the coming year. Mission and action goals We have done much to conserve our aqua-ecosystems in the past year.
We continue and expand the delivering of about 15 000 refuse bags a month to visitors at about 32 resorts and dams in five provinces. The problems that littering caused at our dams was highlighted by the magnificent article on the "Leeupan fiasko" written by Kobus Hermitage in Tight Lines (September Æ97 issue). I want to thank East Rand Plastics for there huge contribution in the supplying of the much needed litter bags. A hearty thanks also to Nampak Polyfoil and Plastomark for their contribution in this regard. The Kleen project took a positive direction with the implementation of the "Adopt a Dam" scheme, whereby dealers accept co-responsibility for the smooth running of this project at their adopted resorts. A special word of thanks to Tatlow & Pledger, the supplier of Shimano fishing Tackle, for the distribution of the Kleen bags to the participating dealers. We have also implemented a black list whereby visitors at certain resorts, who couldnÆt behave themselves, will be banned from visiting these resorts in future. A special word of thanks to Piet Strauss for the big effort he has put into the Kleen project. I also want to thank all our resort co-ordinators for their part to make this project a success. Lastly, congratulations to all the resorts that were monthly winners in our Eco-Kleen Tight Lines competition in the past year, especially the Brummers Resort at Roodeplaat Dam, the Eco-Kleen ~ East Rand Plastics Resort Winner of the year! The resort co-ordinator is Eugene Potgieter and the Adopt a Dam dealer Missions Angling, Pretoria. Congratulations!
Again our club members played an invaluable role to report unlawful dumping at water edges, fish deaths and water pollution which we have followed up and conveyed it to the relevant authorities. The contribution by Eko-Care towards the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in the "Big Bad Five" declared aquatic weeds project is certainly a big step forward to fight this type of water pollution. More than 1500 full-colour posters, supplied by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, illustrating these declared water weeds were distributed by Tatlow & Pledger to all major dealers of fishing tackle countrywide. Thousands of pamphlets, sponsored by Tatlow & Pledger, that illustrates the Big Bad Five are currently being distributed together with the Kleen refuse bags. A 50/50 TV program in conjunction with Eko-Care on water pollution in the Hartbeespoort Dam catchment area was also shown on SABC TV. Our Project Manager, Kobus Hermitage, has done a splendid job in promoting this action goal.
The
Gill Net Busters, under the command of Craig Viljoen, has done an
impressive job. Taking into account the tremendous costs involved
in the project, they have done themselves proud, going to many dams
and rivers during week days as far as Bloemhof Dam, Vaal river, Josini
Dam, Olifants river, etc, etc. During a recent netting program conducted by Eko-Care under the auspices of Dr. Louis de Wet of Waterlab, only one small scale yellow fish was caught in Rietvlei Dam near Pretoria. During a similar program carried out at Rietvlei about ten years ago, small scale yellow fish was the most common species found there. The disappearance of the small scale yellow fish from these waters is the direct result of water pollution levels being far above the prescribed levels. Eko-Care, in conjunction with Dr. Wynand Vlok of the University of the North is currently restocking the Rietvlei Dam with small scale yellow fish. The problems regarding conservation of our fish species were addressed in several articles written in Tight Lines, inter alia; Silwerkarp in Arabie Dam by Kobus Hermitage and a short series on yellow fish written by Dr. Wynand Vlok. Involvement in Events Eko-care were involved with great distinction in the following events the past year:
Finance The annual financial statements of Eko-Care were audited by the well-known auditors Coopers & Lybrand. They were of the opinion that proper books of account have been kept. A marketing manager has been appointed to approach sponsors to generate much needed funds to continue and expand our projects. For these purposes a corporate brochure and corporate video has been created. Eko-Care has also taken advantage of the modern technology of Internet. Constitutional amendments The following amendments are being suggested:
Other Issues
Future Prospective The Eko-Care Club has experienced a growth in membership from approximately 300 to approximately 10 000. This explosion in membership is definitely a very positive sign. However, the administration of such a big membership created immense problems to us, especially because we do not have the administrative personnel to cope with this situation. We have experienced the same problems as far as the expansion and development of our action goals are concerned. These problems were discussed at great length at a Trustees conference late last year. It is clear that Eko-Care needs to appoint permanent staff to continue with our activities. The appointment of a Marketing Manager can help to generate the necessary funds to reach our mission. The Eco-Kleen project creates re-cycling and job creation opportunities. These opportunities must get the necessary attention. The time is also ripe to expand our activities to marine waters. We were approached more than once by Scuba DiverÆs associations to extend and include conservation to our marine resources, e.g. reefs. Eko-Care in a joint venture with the 4x4 Club of South Africa held a very successful clean-up operation during last year on the beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Therefore, we will in the coming year give more attention to marine conservation. Special Recognition Lastly, but not least, I want to present the following medals and certificates, as symbol of our highest appreciation for their contribution in reaching our mission: Eko-Care Gold Medal, our highest symbol of recognition: Bernard Venter û Chief Executive Eko-Care Trust John Pledger û Tatlow & Pledger Gert Kapp û Coopers & Lybrand Leon Ferreira û Dyasons Attorneys Deon Herbst û Statomet Pierre Linford û Reumech Austral Etienne Kriel û Stywe Lyne/Tight Lines Kobus de Kock û East Rand Plastics Kobus Hermitage û Water Pollution Project Manager Craig Viljoen û Gill Net Busters Dr. Wynand Vlok û University of the North Erald Felix û 50/50 Emile Sada û Vice-Chairman SALA Dr. Gert Steyn û RAU, Department of Zoology Charles Maker û Dolphin Fishing Tackle Piet Strauss û Eco-Kleen Project Manager Pierre de Villiers û Free State Nature Conservation Merit Certificates: Piet & Bella Honeyborne André van Deventer Gerrie Maritz Sampie van der Merwe Zelda Strauss Ida Venter |
The
fact that one of our boats was without an outboard, has had a definite
impact on their capacity to do their work effectively. Unlawful gill
netting has increased in many areas, throughout the country. Unlawful
gill nets longer than 400 meters each have been retrieved from Roodekopjes
Dam. Another great concern is the extensive use of gill nets in the
Olifants River near Witbank. The catch, mostly yellow fish, is sold
at mine hostels. Reports of over utilization by means of gill netting
at Motlatedi Dam is causing concern. The resort manager of Klaserie
Dam received death threats because of his commitment to remove the
nets. Few blue kurper is coming out on seized unlawful gill nets at
Hartbeespoort Dam, which is an indication of the low population of
this indigenous fish species. See the article "Is Kurpers se
dae getel in Harties" in Tight Lines written by Kobus Hermitage.
The problem as far as unlawful gill nets is concerned, was brought
to the attention of the public on a 50/50 TV program on SABC. 
