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Communities living around the Kruger National Park, in Mpumalanga Province must benefit from economic activities taking place in the Kruger Park to alleviate poverty and discourage people living in these communities from being easily recruited by rhino poaching syndicates.

Permanent delegates representing Mpumalanga in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) today met with management of the park at Skukuza Camp to discuss how local communities were benefiting from the park as well as the extent of rhino poaching.

The park’s Chief Ranger Mr Nicholas Funda told NCOP delegates that wildlife crime such as rhino and elephant poaching, was exacerbated by high rates of unemployment and poverty, which makes it easy for organised syndicates to recruit poachers from communities near game reserves.

Mr Funda told the NCOP delegates that poaching was an ecological, security, economic and social challenge. While the delegation was impressed by joint efforts of the park’s rangers, SAPS and SANDF to fight poaching, the levels of transformation and economic empowerment of the park to its neighbouring communities was below satisfactory.

Mr Simphiwe Mthimunye, the Leader of the NCOP delegation said it was not enough for communities living next to the park to only benefit in employment but they must participate in the big business activities taking place in the park.

“If communities around the park are benefitting from the economic activities, that will generate sense of ownership and a need to protect the park. When you enter into concessions to run the restaurants and other businesses in the park, you must consider the local communities, in that way the community will become part of the park and see the need to protect it” said Mr Mthimunye

The visit to the park was part of the NCOPs week-long Provincial Week programme to assess job creation and economic development in the province.

The NCOP delegates were also briefed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development, on progress on the proposed Nkomazi Special Economic Zones.

After the briefing the delegation was not convinced if there was any progress in the project that has the potential to create much needed jobs, boost radical economic transformation and the black industrialist program in the impoverished Nkomazi region.

Reports that the planning phase of the project was not yet completed and that the Environmental Impact Assessment was still outstanding, made Members of the NCOP doubt of the project will be realised in this parliamentary term.

On Wednesday the delegation will visit Arnot Power Station and Highveld Steel in the province’s Kangala District. The delegation will also conduct oversight visit to Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court, to check progress on the ongoing refurbishment of the court.

Other matters on the programme for the week include meetings with the Department of Mineral Resources to discuss the state of mining in the province, transformation and benefits derived by mining towns communities.

The delegation will also visit farms before holding a public meeting with farm workers and farm dwellers at Dorenkop Community Hall in Middleburg to discuss labour related issues.

The delegates will also meet with Members of Provincial Legislature, the Local Government Association (SALGA), Members of the Executive Councils (MECs), Mayors and other relevant stakeholders.

The Provincial Week provides an opportunity for the NCOP and Legislatures, to engage directly with citizens on challenges they experience. It further provides an opportunity to receive reports from Government departments and municipalities on progress made regarding service delivery.
 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Leader of the delegation, Simphiwe Mthimunye