Jendamark gives Seaview communities ‘a hand up’

After purchasing the Seaview Predator Park in October last year, Jendamark has set about transforming the renamed Seaview Private Sanctuary into a haven of environmental conservation and upliftment that extends into the communities who live on its boundaries

The Sanctuary is being redeveloped as an outdoor retreat for the automotive tech company’s employees and customers All the big cats have been rehomed, a dam constructed, and various freeranging wildlife species introduced Jendamark operations director Siegfried Lokotsch said that, while the park would not be open to the public, it was important that the wider Seaview community – including the informal settlements of New Rest and Zweledinga –benefit from the development “By investing in the park, we aim to improve the lives of both animals and people,” said Lokotsch “Creating awareness about taking care of the environ- ment is the first step ”

Five community members have been contracted to carry out alien invasive plant clearance and maintenance activities in the park, while two more have been employed to do daily roadside litter cleanups and assist the public using the two municipal waste transfer sites in the area

Waste management

Seaview ward councillor Jason Grobbelaar said the relationship with Jendamark began in January this year when he received a call from Lokotsch about the state of the Zweledinga waste transfer site “There was illegal dumping, and the waste skip was overflowing I explained the issues that led to the problem, that it had been reported, and would be attended to I did not expect his next message: ‘Anything I can help with?’ , which is where this journey started,” said Grobbelaar

After securing the necessary permission from Nelson Mandela Bay municipal officials, Jendamark placed an ad-

SPORTING CHANCE: Young netball players in training at their new court in Zweledinga ditional skip at each of the waste stations, as well as informational signage indicating what may or may not be dumped there

Their assistance is filling the gap, as the municipality does not develop informal settlements where they will be moved to a new location in the near future, which is the case for Zweledinga, explained Grobbelaar

It also closes the gap where the municipality battles to service the area over weekends and public holidays, or when truck breakdowns occur

A sporting chance

Residents of the two informal settlements, who number around 800 in each, are also benefitting in other ways

After Sanctuary custodian Jo-Ann Meiring noticed a young girl pouring paint in the dirt to outline a makeshift netball court, the Jendamark team returned to lay a cement court, complete with hoops and inspirational signage Two mobile action soccer nets were also sponsored, turning it into a flexible sporting arena that is used daily

Zweledinga netball manager Jane Manisa said: We are truly grateful for the magnificent work that Jendamark has done for us

Care centres

In preparation for winter, the company responded to a request for mattresses, blankets and a heater for the Sibabalwe Daycare Centre in Zweledinga, with plans underway to support a similar project at New Rest New Rest community leader Zoliswa Mkrayi said residents were very appreciative of the interventions and positive impact so far

They built the sport field for our community, which is very beautiful, and employ- ment opportunities decrease the number of unemployed in the area [which averages around 35%] We are looking forward to working hand in hand with Jendamark in the future Lokotsch said giving people a hand up, not a handout, was central to Jendamark s sustainable support strategy If we can create a community where we can uplift each other, and where each person thinks about their neighbour, we can build a better place for everyone