The Custodian Programme

He has a son who lives in George and tries to visit him as much as he can. In his spare time Keith enjoys chatting to the locals, watching sunsets and exploring the beautiful coastline Cape Town has to offer.

David is regularly found walking up and down the beach and is a familiar face within the Hout Bay community. He has recently found his other passion — photography. Capturing moments with his Nikon D7000, David has an extensive collection of Hout Bay’s most iconic landscapes.

Shaun moved to Cape Town from the Eastern Cape in search of work and found himself at Saunders. Through donations from Protect our Paths and the impressive Saunders community, Shaun has uplifted himself and is able to support himself and his younger kid.

Roger works most days of the week and has done so for over 18 years. He describes the locals here as his family, who support him through his time here. Next time you stop by, don’t hesitate to give him a wave — and a tip too.

After fifteen years on the same patch, Nick knows the regulars by name — particularly the trail runners who come through from Hout Bay and Constantia. He’s a proud father of two and speaks warmly about the community here and how much he enjoys being part of it. Give him a wave on your way up.

In June 2025 Protect our Paths officially onboarded Chris and his team — much to their, and our, delight. Chris also holds a marketing degree, which he puts to good use as team leader here. Away from the forest, he runs his own carpentry business, building and repairing decks, staircases and homes right across the stretch from Constantia to Hout Bay.

Nazer originates from the DRC. Besides his work at Cecilia Forest, Nazer would like to one day have his own business. Through support from Protect our Paths, and donations from trail users, this dream can become a reality.

Billy has dreams of one day studying solar panel installation, an area he is deeply passionate about. If you spot Billy on your way up the forest, don’t be shy to greet him and thank him for his work.

After three and a half decades, Isaac is as much a part of Newlands as the trees themselves, and the locals who pass through every day know him well. He’s warm, outgoing and always first to lend a hand — and he never misses the chance for a good laugh. He has also brought his family up through the forest: his son Funi now works alongside him. Stop and say hello; he’ll have a story for you.

For Funi, Newlands isn’t just a place of work — it’s a second home for the whole family, and he protects it like one. Like his dad, he’s friendly, outgoing and always happy to help someone out, usually with a joke somewhere in it. If you’re heading into the forest, you’ll likely be greeted by one of them.

Keeping an area with that much foot traffic clean is no small job, and Morgan does it on one of Cape Town’s most iconic climbs. Over the years he’s met people from every walk of life up there, and has collected a fair few stories along the way. Don’t be shy to stop and ask him for one — he’d love to share them.

Vuyo is a calm and wise man, and good company if you stop for a chat. He’s a serious rugby supporter — the Stormers and the Springboks — and follows every match he can. Once a year he heads back to the Eastern Cape on holiday, where he tends his garden on a shared plot of land.