In his absence, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, as mentioned he was not able to join us;

Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia de Lille,

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Bernice Swarts,

Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament,

Mpumalanga Premier, Mr Mandla Ndlovu,

MECs and MMCs,

Director-General of the DFFE, Ms Nomfundo Tshabalala, and the rest of #TeamDFFE,

Interim Board Chairperson, Ms Beryl Ferguson and all SANParks Board Members,

CEO of SANParks, Ms Hapiloe Sello,

Traditional Leaders,

Members of the media,
Our wonderful Programme Director, Thami, as well as to all of our other distinguished guests,

Good evening.

The tapestry of the Kruger National Park's story is one that was woven with threads of conservation, resilience, and the enduring bond between people and nature. In 1898, the then-President Paul Kruger gave the instruction that this area should be declared a Conservation area, which led to the establishment of the Sabie Game Reserve.

Later on, in the North, the Shingwedzi Nature Reserve was established. Then on the 31st of May 1926, the central part of the Kruger National Park was added which connected the Sabie and the Shingwedzi Reserves to officially form what we now know as the Kruger National Park.

There was a delicate balance that was forged a delicate balance between conservation, scientific research and tourism, which are the three legs that formed the basis of the management of the Kruger National Park.

I remember countless nights around the campfire with my family in the Kruger National Park. I remember watching a movie in the amphitheater in Satara. I remember having a competition in the car between my brothers and I to see who could spot the most animals or be the first to spot a lion. I remember asking for my wife to marry me in the Kruger National Park, just North of Letaba. I remember coming here for the second part of our honeymoon.

I am now recreating some of these special memories with my own family. That is why, to this day, I remain deeply passionate about this place. The Kruger National Park is not merely a conservation area; it is a living classroom, a source of inspiration, and a national treasure that has touched the lives of generations of South Africans.

Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday was another milestone for the Kruger family as we signed the Beneficiation Agreement with all of the seven land claimant communities. This agreement will not only improve the socio-economic outcomes of these land claimant communities, but will ultimately be the beginning of creating more memories for other youngsters from all walks of life.

Conservation must exist within society. It must contribute to sustainable livelihoods. It must support development. And it must reflect the values of inclusion and dignity.

To this end, ladies and gentlemen, the newly signed Beneficiation Scheme affirms a fundamental principle: that conservation must create value not only for biodiversity, but also for the people who live alongside and share a deep connection with these landscapes.

This milestone agreement now enables us to drive transformation in the biodiversity sector by promoting the rights, ownership, participation, and responsibilities of all stakeholders.

As a democratic government, we embrace the complexity of our history in all its richness, drawing lessons from the past to strengthen our collective future. That is what yesterday meant to me.

Earlier on I spoke about the three legs that the Kruger stood on: conservation, research and tourism. We have now added a fourth leg, which is community involvement and as you would agree with me, any table with four legs is more stable than one with three. This will be the future of the Park.

This evening’s event calls not only for reflection and celebration, but it also demands clarity. Clarity about where we come from and where we are going.

Kruger National Park stands today as one of the most recognised conservation landscapes in the world. It reflects foresight at a time when such foresight was rare. It reflects decades of scientific progress, institutional commitment, and the sustained effort of generations.

We are clear that the future of conservation in South Africa lies with inclusive stewardship. A responsibility that we all have to take on.

Over the last 100 years, there were remarkable people that contributed to the legacy and heritage of the Kruger National Park. People like James Stevenson-Hamilton, Harry Wolhuter, David Mabunda, Nombolo Mdluli – after whom this venue we are sitting in is named after, Dr Tol Pienaar – whose son Danie is the Head of Conservation and is also with us tonight, and Oscar Mthimkulu – you are a giant. Later tonight, we will give long service awards, as well as posthumous and special recognition awards to some of those giants in whose footsteps we are now walking.

I also would like to thank various other organisations such as the Honourary Rangers, our neighbours in the Sabie Sands – Mala Mala, Mbalule, Timbavati, Klaserie – and various other privately-owned nature reserves, institutions and benefactors such as Kruger Park Wildlife Forum and Pure Wild Fund, who are all contributing in some way to the success and legacy of the Kruger National Park.

These partnerships are not merely symbolic but are a testament to 100 years of strong relationships, perseverance, and a collective responsibility to, and love for, the Kruger National Park.

Ladies and gentlemen, earlier this year, I was here for a management meeting with the Kruger National Park team. We received warnings about the imminent heavy rains and immediately, everyone sprung into action. There was not a single fatality despite the huge visitor numbers. I phoned Minister de Lille and asked for help – she called me within a couple of days to confirm that Tourism would contribute R56-million in EPWP funding towards the recovery efforts.

We now have established the Kruger Recovery Fund through which we are raising funds to begin rebuilding of climate resilient infrastructure.

The success of the next century will depend on how effectively these partnerships are built and sustained.

Looking back on the last 100 years, I realise that we are walking in the footsteps of giants. Their vision, perseverance and deep abiding love for nature gave us the Kruger National Park. They dreamt beyond their time of vast landscapes where elephants roam, lions rule and the ancient rhythms of the wild echo through the bush for generations to come.

As a united people, that legacy now rests in our hands.

I thank you.

Issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment