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On the Green Couch with Bra Laz Makitla
By Annie Makalane and Katlego Morulane
Bra Lazarus Makitla – Multimedia Officer, Groenkloof National Park
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Mr Lazarus Makitla, affectionately known as Bra Laz, joined the organisation in 1982. In November this year, he will have spent 40 years at SANParks. Bra Laz is based at Groenkloof National Park in his position as Multimedia Officer, archiving and preserving all photographs and videos at SANParks. He is currently studying towards his Information Science Degree with UNISA. Here’s a bit about Bra Laz:
“Going to church and spending time in my garden are usually the highlights of my week, especially during a long weekend. I have planted tomatoes, onions and spinach in my garden, including an apricot and a mango tree, which are my favourite,” explained Bra Laz.
“I am very fond of dogs. At the age of 15, I owned one named Wagter. Dogs are quite protective of their masters, which closely matches my personality. Wagter also reminds me of all the carefree moments I enjoyed as a young boy.”
“I was a photographer at a young age in the village where I grew up. I used to take photos of my neighbours and friends in the village. When I finished high school, I came to Pretoria in 1979 where I first worked as a General Worker at Groenkloof in Crescent street whilst I studied part time at a night school within Groenkloof. I was later invited for an interview for a Dark Room Operator in 1983 due to my experience in photography. I then completed a short course in Photography at UNISA in the same year.”
“I can recall the lengthy process of developing numerous films for photographs taken by my then Supervisor, Ms Lorna Stanton. We used chemicals in a room that was totally dark to avoid damage to the films by any sunlight.”
“Slides were used in the printing of images. Staff photos were also taken in a studio within the building. The studio and the two dark rooms were then turned into offices and the processing of films and slides were then outsourced. Sometimes people do not understand the lengthy process of archiving and this is evident when photos are demanded urgently. This is sometimes rather frustrating.”
I am forever grateful to my Supervisors, Lorna Stanton and Eric Reisinger for their contribution to my career and feedback in my work. Lorna has been a mentor to me and helped me through many work challenges. Eric Reisinger always gave me good advice on how to handle photographs in the dark rooms and to always understand the history of the company and what a company is about to make it easier to handle media.”
“Travelling to KNP by air to attend training and travelling to Kgalagadi by bus to play cricket as a team with fellow staff members are a few of my favourite work memories. The love for my job and knowing that I have served and continue to serve the organisation is what energises me.”
“The three items on my bucket list are to further my studies and have a good education, fulfil my dream of setting up a television and watch repair business and to travel to some of the parks I have not been to, such as Table Mountain and West Coast National Parks,” Bra Laz concluded.
By Reynold Thakhuli and Gabrielle Venter
New tourism investment opportunities on offer in national parks
Following the inaugural Tourism Investment Summit hosted by SANParks in March 2017, the country’s body charged with the management of a system of national parks hosted its second successful Tourism Investment Summit using a virtual platform on 31 March 2022.
The then Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Dumisani Dlamini said, “SANParks has developed a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) portfolio of 60 projects since the adoption of its Commercialisation Strategy in 2000. The portfolio encompasses a diversity of tourism offerings ranging from adventure activities, retail and restaurants to accommodation. Cumulatively these projects have contributed over R1 394 billion to SANParks in the last two decades while increasing infrastructure assets to the value of R955 million.”
He said this portfolio of PPPs has contributed significantly to the diversification of tourism offerings in the 20 national parks as well as to tourism revenue – the key driver of conservation funding and the sustainability of SANParks.
According to Dlamini, the inaugural SANParks Tourism Investment Summit achieved its objective, as in the intervening years SANParks has seen the entry of new players into its PPP programme, many with strong BBBEE credentials, achieving the transformation and diversification of its concessionaire network in the process.
“And now with a pipeline of over 100 new PPP opportunities identified for implementation in the next decade, as well as the expiration of some key concessionaire contracts including the Table Mountain Cable Car, Cape Point and lodges in the Kruger in the next three to five years, this is an opportune time to host a second summit,” said Dlamini.
The second SANParks Tourism Investment Summit hosted keynote speakers and a panel of experts who shared insights into the PPP business model as well as lend their perspectives to the future prospects of the South African tourism sector. The panel discussion consisted of Mr Tshifhiwa Tshivhenga, CEO of Tourism Business Counsel of South Africa; Mr Andile Khumalo, Entrepreneur and Chairperson of SANParks Investment Committee of the Board; Ms Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, COO of City Lodge Hotels; Mr David Frost, CEO of Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and Mr Aaron Munetsi, CEO of Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA). Ms Leanne Manas, Broadcast Anchor and Businesswoman was the facilitator.
Acting CEO signs the MOU with Youth in Conservation of South Africa
SANParks signed the MOU with Youth in Conservation of South Africa. The parties are Continued on Page 11...
