Cape Town photographer Jacques Marais is calling on the community to take action after exploring the aftermath of a fire that broke out at Clovelly’s Trappieskop in late December 2024, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Marais, who ventured to the site this week, shared his concerns in an emotional Instagram post about the ongoing challenges the area faces, both environmentally and socially.
The fire, which started near the firebreak on the mountain, was contained without any injuries or property damage, though the cause remains undetermined.
While the area has begun to show signs of recovery, with new green shoots emerging after a few summer rains, Marais noted the grim reality of the situation as he examined the site.
‘The burn is desolate, and looks a bit like the Chilean Altiplano,’ he wrote in his post. ‘But green shoots are beginning to pop up everywhere after a few summer showers.’
However, Marais expressed frustration with a recurring issue on the mountain: illegal vagrancy.
He identified the point where the fire started as less than 50 metres off the firebreak, where a rock overhang serves as a shelter for multiple individuals.
This site, he explained, is surrounded by heaps of garbage and litter, indicating the presence of vagrants who may be contributing to the ongoing fire risks.
‘I feel pretty helpless,’ Marais continued. ‘If the City of Cape Town really wanted to do something about fire prevention and mountain safety, these illegal sites need to be cleared out.’
Marais emphasised that while environmental projects like dune rehabilitation and wetland protection are valuable, they are ineffective if the root causes of the issues – such as vagrancy – are not addressed.
He questioned the current approach of local authorities such as SANParks and suggested that more active measures, including a dedicated mountain patrol or community involvement, may be needed to tackle the problem.
‘Where to from here?’ he asked. ‘A private mountain police force? Vigilantism? Looking the other way while rigging electric fences around your property? This is on your doorstep, Fish Hoek Community, and surely we can all do better than turning a blind eye and walking away.’
Marais, who is clearly passionate about protecting the natural environment and the safety of local residents, offered to volunteer his time and efforts, calling on others to join him in cleaning up the area.
‘I’m happy to take a day out of my month to take back and clean up our backyard, because the local authorities surely won’t get around to it,’ he concluded.
While no official comment has been made by the City of Cape Town regarding Marais’s concerns, the issue of vagrancy and its potential link to fire risks remains a pressing topic for many communities in the region.
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Picture: @jacqmaraisphoto / Instagram
