KRUGER NEWS

National Assembly Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Forestry Fisheries and the Environment’s Visit To KNP

By Khensile Moriri

The Managing Executive (ME) of the Kruger National Park (KNP), Mr Gareth Coleman invited the chairperson of portfolio committee: Department of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Ms Faith Muthambi to meet and engage with community stakeholders of the park. On Saturday, 12 March 2022, Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre welcomed Traditional Authorities and Councils, District Municipality, the People and Parks, Forums and Land Claimants of KNP in participation of the ministerial event.

Mr Coleman welcomed the Chairperson of Portfolio Committee and attendees by unfolding the purpose behind the event. He emphasised the importance of the portfolio of DFFE as a stakeholder since it represents the interest of South Africans and constantly inquires with KNP on behalf of communities adjacent to the park. He further stretched on his remarks from all the previous stakeholder engagement meetings he had attended ever since his arrival in the park, “I have always underlined that we need to introduce Land Claimants and Communities adjacent to the park into all Kruger’s management strategies. We need to bring community projects and enterprises into the centre of Kruger’s economy. Nothing happens without action, hence we need to hear people’s voices because change is a process, which is why we are gathered here today.”

The ministerial event was the first face-to-face interaction with Kruger and visit for Ms Muthambi. In support of communities and the environment at large, the portfolio chair regarded the park as a national asset, pride of South Africans and a beneficiary to all. The Chair’s visit was not only to meet with community stakeholders to familiarise herself with the structure but also to empower and strengthen ownership.

Ms Helen Mmethi, GM-SET introduces community stakeholders in attendance

“One of my values is to see the transformation of biodiversity enterprise. If we want people to take initiative and be part of the transformation, we should empower them. We want to experience South African ownership of these luxurious facilities within the park. We want to know your processes, what you have done, what you are currently doing and resolutions that will assist in introducing legislations to enable you to make progress. I am the voice of the voiceless – I represent people, which is one of the reasons that brought me here today. Let us all engage and find a way forward to preserve our natural asset,” proclaimed Ms Muthambi as she concluded her address.

Granted the floor to express and contribute on sustaining the park for the future, the community stakeholders’ concerns and proposals mostly centered around small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and supply chain management (SCM) processes, youth empowerment and elimination of wildlife crime and fraud by accelerating wildlife educational programmes, creation of job opportunities and emphasis of work ethics amongst management.