Five teams from WESSA and Birdlife Harties tackled their 16th year of summer water bird count at the Hartbeespoort Dam last weekend.

"In recent years South Africa's flora has been plundered by unscrupulous traders who use local labour to supply these endangered species to collectors worldwide.

The DA in Gauteng said that residents need not be alarmed by reports circulating on social media regarding cyanobacteria or blue-green algae in the Hennops River and Hartbeespoort Dam, among other water bodies.

Why is there still so much water hyacinth on Hartbeespoort Dam? The Centre for Biological Control (CBC) of the Rhodes University, this week addressed the answers to this increasingly asked question by the public:

About 40% of Hartbeespoort Dam is currently covered by hyacinth. However, the Centre for Biological Control (CBC) said the plants started to show distress due to the Megamellus bugs.

Magalies Water said this week it acknowledged the high hyacinth coverage on Hartbeespoort Dam and that the manual removal of the invasive plant had continued during the festive season.

Cycads in Hartbeespoort are in danger of being destroyed by the Leopard moth which has made its appearance again recently.

Kerri Wolter, founder of VulPro vulture rehabilitation centre in Hartbeespoort received the coveted Women in Conservation Award from SANParks for her protection and passion for the vultures in Africa.

The ongoing rain poses serious risks to vultures and birds of prey, including soaked feathers, nest destruction, and hypothermia.

The NSRI has issued a stern warning to boaters to be extremely careful when venturing onto Hartbeespoort Dam this festive season.