Date: 14/04/2003
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Rooi: Opening of Schmidtsdrift & Platfontein communal wildlife ranches
ADDRESS BY THE NORTHERN CAPE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DAWID ROOI, AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE SCHMIDTSDRIFT AND PLATFONTEIN COMMUNAL WILDLIFE RANCHES, 14 April 2003
The Programme Director
The Executive of PHASA
The Steering Committee Members
Management and Colleagues in the Department
Ladies and Gentlemen
We gathered here to mark a significant step towards the democratisation of South Africa's wildlife industry. An industry that deliberately pursued the economic exclusion of the African masses through apartheid policies. In pushing back the frontiers of poverty - we shall broaden access to the wildlife industry - we shall break down the barriers of economic exclusion by promoting wildlife ownership in celebration of a new dawn. A dawn that shall usher in a new generation of African professional hunters and a new generation of African conservation professionals. The new beginning is with us today.
In personifying the African dream, we decided upon the introduction of previously disadvantaged individuals as professional hunters. The necessary results have been attained - we are moving in the right direction at the right speed. We hope to bid 2003 farewell with a total of 30 PDI professional hunters. Two million rand has been set aside as part of our mentoring programme.
The hunting industry is a big business and as government we shall also mean business by pursuing a lion's share from this lucrative industry on behalf of our communities for we all aware of the huge economic spin-offs.
In broadening access to the wildlife industry we shall achieve our objective of improving the quality of life of our people. We shall at the same time promote the sustainable usage and management of our wildlife by ensuring that the African ecosystem stays intact for the promotion of ecotourism. It is for this specific reason that we have designed our mentoring programme around sustainable management and effective monitoring systems. Through these efforts we shall not falter in creating real defenders of wildlife and not a constituency-less minority of wildlife fanatics who keep on endangering the South African economy by calling for a tourism boycott against trophy hunting.
We insist that communal wildlife ranches, as conservation enterprises are critical in the cycle of sustainable development. As a Government we are challenging you to unite in fighting against poachers - the night butchers. Some of them will evade you like a jackal but let your animal instinct guide you in identifying them.
I wish you prosperity and a breathtaking wildlife spectacle. To the Schmidtsdrift and Platfontein Steering Committees, I extend my unending gratitude for your co-operation and ensuring that we use local labour in the fencing project, a project for which a R1 million was allocated. Be aware that this is an extension of the post resettlement process for ours is to ensure that we do not dumb you on barren land. The abuse episode of our San people by the apartheid regime is over. Enjoy the wildlife that characterises your heritage. This is indeed the coming home of a lost element of your heritage. Enjoy your citizenry as South Africans.
I am happy to announce that very soon we shall table our plans in constructing up-market tents for Schmidtsdrift that we certainly accommodate the discerning tourist. And for Platfontein - our intension is to upgrade the farmhouse into a lodge, we looking a total cost of R1 million for these projects. We trust that we shall secure partnerships for this initiative. We also mindful of the demands of the hospitality industry - we shall engage the Department of Labour to assist in equipping you with the relevant skills.
I wish to thank the Executive of Professional Hunters Association of South Africa for its afro-optimism. My sincere thanks goes out to you for lending a helping hand in eradicating poverty by broadening access towards the wildlife industry. Where we work in partnership with a common goal, there is no doubt that we can make a difference in building stronger communities by encouraging economic growth.
Let us celebrate without forgetting to step up all our efforts for we still have much to do.
I thank you!
Issued by Northern Cape Provincial Government
14 April 2003
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government
Title: Rooi: Opening of Schmidtsdrift & Platfontein communal wildlife ranches
ADDRESS BY THE NORTHERN CAPE MEC FOR AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM, ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION, DAWID ROOI, AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE SCHMIDTSDRIFT AND PLATFONTEIN COMMUNAL WILDLIFE RANCHES, 14 April 2003
The Programme Director
The Executive of PHASA
The Steering Committee Members
Management and Colleagues in the Department
Ladies and Gentlemen
We gathered here to mark a significant step towards the democratisation of South Africa's wildlife industry. An industry that deliberately pursued the economic exclusion of the African masses through apartheid policies. In pushing back the frontiers of poverty - we shall broaden access to the wildlife industry - we shall break down the barriers of economic exclusion by promoting wildlife ownership in celebration of a new dawn. A dawn that shall usher in a new generation of African professional hunters and a new generation of African conservation professionals. The new beginning is with us today.
In personifying the African dream, we decided upon the introduction of previously disadvantaged individuals as professional hunters. The necessary results have been attained - we are moving in the right direction at the right speed. We hope to bid 2003 farewell with a total of 30 PDI professional hunters. Two million rand has been set aside as part of our mentoring programme.
The hunting industry is a big business and as government we shall also mean business by pursuing a lion's share from this lucrative industry on behalf of our communities for we all aware of the huge economic spin-offs.
In broadening access to the wildlife industry we shall achieve our objective of improving the quality of life of our people. We shall at the same time promote the sustainable usage and management of our wildlife by ensuring that the African ecosystem stays intact for the promotion of ecotourism. It is for this specific reason that we have designed our mentoring programme around sustainable management and effective monitoring systems. Through these efforts we shall not falter in creating real defenders of wildlife and not a constituency-less minority of wildlife fanatics who keep on endangering the South African economy by calling for a tourism boycott against trophy hunting.
We insist that communal wildlife ranches, as conservation enterprises are critical in the cycle of sustainable development. As a Government we are challenging you to unite in fighting against poachers - the night butchers. Some of them will evade you like a jackal but let your animal instinct guide you in identifying them.
I wish you prosperity and a breathtaking wildlife spectacle. To the Schmidtsdrift and Platfontein Steering Committees, I extend my unending gratitude for your co-operation and ensuring that we use local labour in the fencing project, a project for which a R1 million was allocated. Be aware that this is an extension of the post resettlement process for ours is to ensure that we do not dumb you on barren land. The abuse episode of our San people by the apartheid regime is over. Enjoy the wildlife that characterises your heritage. This is indeed the coming home of a lost element of your heritage. Enjoy your citizenry as South Africans.
I am happy to announce that very soon we shall table our plans in constructing up-market tents for Schmidtsdrift that we certainly accommodate the discerning tourist. And for Platfontein - our intension is to upgrade the farmhouse into a lodge, we looking a total cost of R1 million for these projects. We trust that we shall secure partnerships for this initiative. We also mindful of the demands of the hospitality industry - we shall engage the Department of Labour to assist in equipping you with the relevant skills.
I wish to thank the Executive of Professional Hunters Association of South Africa for its afro-optimism. My sincere thanks goes out to you for lending a helping hand in eradicating poverty by broadening access towards the wildlife industry. Where we work in partnership with a common goal, there is no doubt that we can make a difference in building stronger communities by encouraging economic growth.
Let us celebrate without forgetting to step up all our efforts for we still have much to do.
I thank you!
Issued by Northern Cape Provincial Government
14 April 2003
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