Pretoria - Vast areas including Midrand, Hartbeespoort Dam, Diepsloot, Pretoria and Rooihuiskraal could be without water as a result of a resident’s determination to save his “sacred” 1 000-year-old oak trees on his smallholding.
Fearing that his beloved trees would be destroyed by water pipes if they were installed by Rand Water on his Midrand property, Reiner Rieger has barred anyone from coming on to his property to do any related work.
Rand Water has since launched an urgent application in the high court in Pretoria to try to force Rieger to allow the installation of pipes on his property.
Sania Sithole of Rand Water said in court papers that the Klipfontein-Brakfontein pipeline project was approved and it was necessary to provide water to parts of Centurion and Pretoria.
Contractors needed to urgently start work on the project, and some of the pipes must be laid on the property of Rieger.
The project was very important and could not be delayed due to the “alarming rate of increasing water demand” in Midrand, Hartbeespoort Dam, Diepsloot, Tshwane and Rooihuiskraal, the court was told.
According to Sithole, Rieger was refusing access to his property to install the pipes, as he complained, among other things, that the trees on his property would be destroyed. She said he ignored all Rand Water’s requests to grant them access and he recently left for Germany.
Sithole said the situation was extremely urgent because, with every day’s delay, Rand Water had to pay R15 000 in penalties.
The contractor also pointed out that incomplete pipelines posed a safety risk to the community.
Rieger’s neighbour has granted permission for Rand Water to install the pipes on his property – provided Rieger gave the green light first.
Sithole said if they did not urgently install the pipes, vast areas may soon be without water.
In his answering papers, Rieger said he was not being difficult at all, but he was concerned about the sacred trees on his property.
He said he fully understood the need for water and he most certainly did not want to be responsible for delaying the project, but he wanted his trees to be saved.
He accepted they needed to be removed, or at least replanted somewhere else.
Rieger said he has a special bond with the trees on his property. His descendants in Germany were deeply spiritual and communicated with nature and he followed the same way of life.
“In my religion, trees, especially oak trees, are sacred.
“I bought my property especially because of the trees.”
According to him he wakes up in the middle of the night and visits his trees. “I pray there with my ancestors, especially my grandmother… I grew up watching her pray by the trees.”
He is especially close to a line of young oak trees on his property, as well as to two older trees: one is 50 years old and too old to be replanted, while the other is 20 years old. “This is not mere sentiment as it may seem to an outsider. This is my religion.”
Following the urgent application, the parties came to an agreement, which was made an order of court, in terms of which Rand Water will give Rieger a list of environmental specialists to assist in the removal and replanting of his beloved trees. Both parties will also obtain quotes for the removal of 19 trees (13 of which are oak trees).
The parties will meet this week on his property to see how they can resolve the situation.
If they cannot find common ground, Rand Water was given permission to again head to court.
Pretoria News