Durban — The KwaZulu-Natal legislature has given the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park an ultimatum to expedite the process of erecting a new fence at the park to the value of R9.5 million and for the procurement process to begin by the end of September.
This followed the reports of lions escaping and attacking livestock. They also posed an imminent danger to communities in northern KZN due to the fallen and inadequate fencing boundary of the park.
The decisions were announced by the Conservation and Environment Affairs Portfolio Committee during a media briefing, shortly after a meeting with stakeholders and representatives who had petitioned the legislature on the matter at the KZN Sharks Board, uMhlanga, over the weekend.
Speaking on behalf of community representatives, Msizi Myaka said they were pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
“We are quite very happy with most of the plans and decisions taken in this meeting. We took resolutions that we see as more progressive and more towards finding a solution.
“We are content with the appointment of the chairman (Sthembiso Mshengu) as the mediator between the parks and the people. In this way, there are now timelines with specific people to follow up within a period of time. The most challenging factor was the lack of communication as we had no specific person to report to or question progress with,” said Myaka.
He said they were concerned that only three people from the area were employed in the parks. He added that a further 21 people who were employed in July never started working.
“We are, however, happy that after this meeting we were promised that bursaries and learnerships would be allocated for our children. These opportunities would not be for them to become security guards and cleaners, but they could dream even bigger and possibly become owners of the parks,” he said.
The committee’s chairperson, Sthembiso Mshengu, said the meeting was held far from the affected communities to avoid disputes.
“We know people are hurting and severely affected. As a result, we decided to hold a meeting far from them with the aim that it would go smoothly and bring solutions they would be happy to hear about, not reports on things that needed to be done. We have seen them protesting and burning the infrastructure that is essential to them. That is a behaviour we totally do not condone. However, because we were engaging with their representatives, their concerns reached us,” he said.
He said the most essential point of agreement was that the community consultative structures be restored to ensure that monthly meetings on progress on issues raised were reported.
“The issues raised included the compensation for people who lost their animals, local labour, unemployment and the (benefits for) the communities in relation to the opportunities within the park.
“We have agreed as well that the portfolio committee of the legislature and the petition committee will have joint meetings for the next three months at Ukhukho and surrounding areas to check progress on matters raised,” said Mthembu.
He further stated that they were planning to package a number of interventions aimed at assisting young people within the jurisdiction of Ukhukho and surroundings.
“There is a high level of unemployment in the area… there are young people who have been to school and others in universities. Yet, they are roaming around with nothing to do while they have acquired skills that remained unused.”
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO Ntsikelelo Dlulane said there were challenges for the group selected in July to begin working. However, Dlulane said they were planning to visit communities on Tuesday with the aim of working on further communication with the people there. They were also working on plans to fast-track the process of compensation for the people.
Daily News