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The co-management agreement further provides for the establishment of a ‘Wonderkop NatureReserve Management Committee’ to represent the interests of the parties to the agreement in theongoing management and development of the WNR. The management committee has beenconstituted - with representation from the Tale Ga Morudu community, the Mogalakwena LocalMunicipality and LEDET – and meets quarterly.In terms of the co-management agreement, the executing agency pays a conservation levy (R5/ha,adjusted annually for inflation) into the community trust account and shares the proceeds of ‘net profit’from reserve activities with the community on a 50:50 basis.A land claim in terms of Section 10 of the Restitution of Land Rights Act, 1994 (Act No. 22 of 1994) wassubmitted by the Bakone BagaMatlala community over the following properties that form part of theWNR: Steilwater No. 385 LR, Elim No. 383 LR, Groot Bosch No. 384 LR, De Draai No. 374 LR andPlatteklip No. 346 LR. This land claim is currently still in process.Table 3 details the current staff complement of the WNR.2.4 Reserve description2.4.1 HistoryTable 3: The current staff complement of the Wonderkop Nature ReservePOSTNUMBERReserve Manger 1Field Ranger 15Total 16The farms comprising the WNR were initially used for cattle farming and, to a lesser extent, irrigatedcrop production. The area was severely overgrazed for an extended period of time, which resulted inpoor grass cover, erosion and extensive bush encroachment, especially in flat areas with fertile soils.The cultivation of crops in such a low rainfall area further contributed to the degradation of the veld.The properties comprising the WNR were subsequently purchased by the State for the purpose of there-establishment of a black community that was re-located from Makgorang. The farms used for thispurpose became known as the Steilloop group of South African Development Trust farms (Steilloopfarms). This piece of land was kept in trust in order to be prepared and developed for theestablishment of the farmers from the Makgorang community, during which time it was still used forcattle farming under the management of the South African Development Trust Co-operation (STK) onbehalf of the former Department of Development Aid.In the 1980’s a planning committee was appointed by the former Department of Development Aid withthe task of evaluating the suitability of the Steilloop farms for the re-establishment of the Makgorangfarmers. The committee concluded that a large portion of these farms was not suitable for cattlefarming as a result of its low carrying capacity, a history of overgrazing and the presence of Poison Leaf.The committee went on to recommend that the area be developed as a nature reserve, which couldlater be transferred to the then Lebowa Government.An area of 3 950 ha located in the northern section of the Steilloop farms was initially earmarked as apotential nature reserve by the former Department of Development Aid. This area was managed by theconservation division of the said department, which was responsible for the fencing of the area in 1991.Game, including approximately 300 head of Impala, 80 head of Kudu and a number of Warthog, wasonly introduced to the area in 1993. The numbers of these species were, however, strictly controlled inLEDET Reserve Management Documents: Wonderkop Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 15
order to protect the veld against further degradation and to give it the opportunity to recover from thesevere overgrazing which took place in the area in the past.In 1993 a portion covering 16 100 ha of the Steilloop farms, including the portion measuring 3 950 hathat was previously reserved, was proclaimed as a nature reserve (Section 2.2). The removal of cattlefrom the reserve subsequently commenced after 1993. In addition hereto, it was also decided to notstock the reserve with any further game species until such time as the veld has sufficiently recoveredfrom historical overgrazing practices. This resulted in a rapid rate of veld recovery.A bush encroachment control programme was also implemented in the reserve with great success,creating vegetation marked by an open, woody structure and tall grass of good quality. Theseconditions are ideal for the introduction of both Sable and Roan Antelope and, as a result, 16 individualsof Sable Antelope and 20 individuals of Roan Antelope were introduced to the reserve in 1996 and1997, respectively.2.4.2 ClimateThe WNR receives most of its rainfall during the summer months. Winters are relatively dry and frostoccurs occasionally.The reserve receives an average annual rainfall of 372 mm per year, most of which falls during thesummer months. The area receives the least amount of rainfall in August (with an average monthlyrainfall of 0.3 mm per month) and the most in November (with an average monthly rainfall of 100 mmper month) (Figure 4).The monthly average for maximum temperatures at the reserve ranges from 24°C in July to 33°C inFebruary. The region is coldest during July, when temperatures drop to an average of 4°C at night(Figure 4).Figure 4: Average monthly rainfall and minimum and maximum temperatures for the Wonderkop Nature Reserve (StyloopWeather Station: Latitude: 23.4874°S; Longitude: 28.6546°E; Altitude: 984 m above sea level).LEDET Reserve Management Documents: Wonderkop Nature Reserve (Strategic Plan) 16
Page 3 and 4: This SP is recommended for approval
Page 5 and 6: 4. STRATEGIC IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWO
Page 7 and 8: ABBREVIATIONS AND PLANNING TERMSABB
Page 9 and 10: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYLEDET Reserve Mana
Page 11 and 12: This SP has the following structure
Page 13 and 14: 2. CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK2.1 Location
Page 15: Table 2: Key national, provincial a
Page 19 and 20: 2.4.6 Vegetation2.4.6.1 GeneralThe
Page 21 and 22: The following mammal species includ
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Page 25 and 26: KPA 4:Infrastructure andEquipment(O
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Page 29 and 30: 456Fire protection measures and res
Page 31 and 32: term objective of phasing out this
Page 33 and 34: fence line, on well-used management
Page 35 and 36: Management actions and targetsKPA 2
Page 37 and 38: KPA 3: ENFORCEMENT, SECURITY AND AC
Page 39 and 40: (vi) Undertake a threat analysis to
Page 41 and 42: 2All reserve equipment and vehicles
Page 43 and 44: Objective 4.3: Construct, upgrade a
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Page 55 and 56: 6 BIBLIOGRAPHYThe following referen
Page 57 and 58: Development - Low IntensityUsers:
Page 59 and 60: Development - Reserve Administratio

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