D L I W
G MAY/JUNE 2022 EDITION
Worker’s Month Our People, Our Success
In this issue... On the Green Couch with Bra Laz Makitla
Award-winning Sydney Mikosi now heading up activities in Addo
Edward Moumakoe – A creative conservationist
Heroic SANParks Ranger to the rescue
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A world-class system of sustainable National Parks reconnecting and inspiring society
CONTENTS
VISION A world-class system of sustainable National Parks reconnecting and inspiring society. MISSION To develop, expand, manage and promote a system of sustainable national parks that represents biodiversity and heritage assets, through innovation and best practice for the just and equitable benefit of current and future generations. VALUES • Demonstrate leadership • Embrace, and be guided by, environmental ethics • Promote transformation both within and outside the organisation • Strive for scientific and service excellence • Act with professionalism • Adopt and encourage initiative and innovation by all • Treat all stakeholders with equality and justice • Exercise discipline • Act with honesty and integrity • Strive for transparency and open communication at all times
TALKING POINT
3
FRONTIER NEWS
20
SANParks TODAY
4
20
Acting CEO Engages Staff On The State of SANParks and Vision 2040
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One Step Closer to Universal Access to Valley Of Desolation – Camdeboo National Park
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IUCN-SOS Grant Support for Black Rhino Monitoring in Three National Parks
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On a Crusade To Create Universal Accessibility at Cambedoo’s Valley of Desolation
Award-Winning Sydney Mikosi Now Heading Up Activities in Addo
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SANParks Supports Communities Around Garden Route
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Edward Moumakoe – A Creative Conservationist
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On the Green Couch with Bra Laz Makitla
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KRUGER NEWS
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New Tourism Investment Opportunities On Offer In National Parks
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The new Change Management SOP
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National Assembly Chairperson of Portfolio Committee on Forestry Fisheries and the Environment’s Visit to KNP
ARID NEWS
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Ground Water: Making the Invisible Visible
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Succulent Poachers Convicted to Seven Years in Jail
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#KnowYourParks – Lower Sabie Rest Camp in KNP
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6th Annual Klipspringer Challenge Trail at Augrabies Falls National Park
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NORTHERN NEWS
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Green House for Richtersveld’s Botanical Garden
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Completion of the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Centre Mapungubwe Commemorates Museum Day
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CAPE NEWS
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A New Project Pairs Table Mountain and Reunion Island National Parks
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Mapungubwe Celebrates Africa Month with Fulufhelo Special School Heroic SANParks Ranger to the Rescue
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Ecological Burn – Table Mountain National Park
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National Endangered Species Day – 20 May 2022
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SANParks Launches the Draft Tokai Cecilia Implementation Plan for Public Comment
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS/HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS/EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
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New Appointments
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GO WILD TEAM NEWS TEAM/CONTRIBUTORS: Christine du Plessis,
Fayroush Ludick, Genevieve Maasdorp, Khensile Moriri, Tumi Mphahlele, Katlego Morulane, Chris Patton, Reynold Thakhuli, Annie Makalane, Gabrielle Venter, Lauren Howard-Clayton, Stef Freitag-Ronaldson, Phokela Lebea, Mulovhedzi Lufuno and Ramotshela Karabo General Manager: Stakeholder Relations, Media and Events
Editor Katlego Morulane
Sub-editor Phokela Lebea
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli REGULATORY FRAMEWORK SANParks was established in terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003. In terms of this Act, SANParks’ mandate is to conserve; protect; control; and manage national parks and other defined protected areas and their biological diversity (biodiversity). The organisation is also subject to the prescripts of the Public Finance Management Act of 1999. COPYRIGHT Go Wild is a bi-monthly internal magazine published by the Communications Division of South African National Parks (SANParks). All material published is copyrighted and cannot be used without the written permission of the Editor in Chief. Copy intended for publication and comments must reach the editor’s desk before noon on the 5th of every month. If not, the articles will not be published. All articles are published at the editorial team’s discretion. Please forward your suggestions and comments to: internalcomms@sanparks.org | Tel 012 426 5401
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TALKING POINT
Talking Point Camdeboo Valley of Desolation
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli General Manager: Media, Events and Stakeholder Relations
It is hard to believe that the first quarter of the financial year is behind us and we are halfway through the calendar year. At the recent State of the Organisation address, the Acting CEO, Mr Dumisani Dlamini, highlighted amongst many other topics that our performance as an organisation is at 87%. Colleagues, let us aim for 100% performance as we enter into the second quarter of the financial year. Let us continue remaining focused and pushing to reach each our individual targets as a whole. The month of May is declared Worker’s Month in South Africa, where 1 May (Worker’s Day) serves both as a celebration of workers’ rights and as a reminder of the critical role that trade unions play in the fight against workers’ rights. Workers’ Day in South Africa holds its own cultural significance, as the public holiday has come to signify not only the sacrifices made on the long road toward fair employment standards, but also the bitter battle against Apartheid in which trade and labour unions played a key role. In line with Worker’s Month, we celebrate all SANParks employees, and more especially those essential workers who continue to keep the SANParks boat sailing even during the busy holiday and festive season. Colleagues, we celebrate your passion and dedication toward keeping our customers happy so they are able to relax and enjoy the natural beauty our country has to offer.
We also celebrate four employees in this issue – Bra Lazarus Makitla, Multimedia Officer, based at Groenkloof National Park, who is celebrating his 40th year at SANParks this year; Mr Edward Moumakoe, the new anti-poaching Security Manager in Addo and a creative conservationist at heart; and award-winning Sydney Mikosi who is now heading up Activities in Addo. We also celebrate Innocent Lebepa, Section Ranger at Mapungubwe National Park who heroically used his own hands to remove a three metre python from underneath a truck. Read more on their inspirational stories inside. In addition and quite significantly, three key environmental days were observed this past month – the International Day for Biodiversity celebrated on 22 May, World Environment Day on 5 June, and World Oceans Day on 8 June. These calendar days place special attention on our purpose as SANParks, including our specific outcome goal of realising sustainable biodiversity across land and see for the people of South Africa and the world, now and in the future. Being a custodian of 21 national parks, we should all be honored to be at the forefront of this worthy cause of nature conservation, including that of ensuring every citizen realises their constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing, and to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations. On a corporate level, we were delighted to have hosted the second Tourism Investment Summit on 31 March 2022. Live-streamed from The Capital in Sandton, Johannesburg, several of our PPP investment opportunities were presented. We hope that through this strategic initiative we will continue to develop and improve our tourism offering to our customers. The Honourable Ms Barbara Creecy attended the event amongst several other sector leaders. In this issue, you will also read more about a new project which pairs Table Mountain and Reunion Island National Parks, and about the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Save Our Species (SOS) support for Black Rhino Monitoring and much more. Grab a coffee, read on, and GO WILD!
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SANParks TODAY
Acting CEO Engages Staff On The State of SANParks and Vision 2040 By Katlego Morulane
On 10 May 2022, SANParks ACEO, Mr Dumisani Dlamini engaged SANParks staff in a hybrid session hosted at the SANParks Head Office, Groenkloof National Park in Pretoria. SANParks Chief Operating Officer, Ms Lize McCourt and Head of Human Capital, Ms Makgomo Umlaw also steered the session. Mr Dlamini presented the Quarter 4 and overall performance of the organisation highlighting that SANParks achieved 87% of its targets, 3% was partially achieved and 10% have not been achieved.
On target 3%
10%
87%
Work in progress Off target
Mr Dlamini presented the performance of the organisation per outcome goal, illustrated in the table below: OUTCOME GOALS
% On target
% Work in progress
% Off target
% No milestone
Outcome goal 1: Sustainable biodiversity and cultural heritage across land and sea delivers benefits for the people of SA and the world, now and in the future
87,5% (14/16)
0% (0/16)
12,5% (2/16)
0% (0/16)
60% (3/5)
20% (1/5)
20% (1/5)
0% (0/5)
Outcome goal 3: Sustainable socio-economic development programme that ensures delivery of benefits to the land claimants, historically disadvantaged communities and the people of SA
100% (14/14)
0% (0/14)
0% (0/14)
0% (0/14)
Outcome goal 4: Sustainable and transformed organisation through revenue, people, systems and business processes
82% (18/22)
9% (2/22)
9% (2/22)
0% (0 /22)
OVERALL PERFORMANCE
86% (49/57)
5% (3/57)
9% (5/57)
0% (0/57)
Outcome goal 2: Improved diverse-responsible tourism
Mr Dlamini explained that revenue raised through tourism increased to R1 191 billion, which was 11,2% above target of R1 071 billion and also explained that the income to cost ratio improved compared to the previous year (currently at 0.96:1). Vision 2040 and the new strategic direction The ACEO enlightened staff about Vision 2040, a SANParks board and leading project of establishing a long-term vision and strategic direction for SANParks, anchored around four main themes:
• Conservation – Our long-term view is to establish a strong portfolio of both terrestrial and marine protected areas while also ensuring our national parks are climate resilient and responsive. We also have an ambition to see thriving rhino populations in our national parks in partnership with communities. • Tourism – Our long-term goal is to significantly enhance our value proposition, improve our product offerings and position our national Continued on Page 6...
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SANParks TODAY
On a Crusade To Create Universal Accessibility at Cambedoo’s Valley of Desolation By Chris Patton
Camdeboo’s Valley of Desolation universally accessible
Chantelle Marais is a tour operator, entrepreneur and passionate lover of the Karoo and her home town of Graaff-Reinet. For several years she has proudly been entering the Valley of Desolation into the Lilizela Tourism Awards, which gives national recognition to locations to raise their profile, both in South Africa and around the world. Even though the town and the Valley were acknowledged at provincial level several times, they were never recognised at national level as the criteria for the national award included universal accessibility (UA), and the physical terrain at the Valley View Point is not accessible to all visitors. Chantelle raised the issue with her father, the late Buks Marais, who was likewise a Karoophile and an active member of Granaat, an association of concerned locals who actively work to support the park, even before Camdeboo’s establishment when it was still known as the Karoo Nature Reserve and managed by the Eastern Cape Provincial authorities. Granaat as a body approached SANParks and indicated they would like to raise funds and source expertise to help create greater UA at the Valley. The Camdeboo Park Manager, Mzwandile Mjadu, put them into contact with the SANParks Honorary Rangers and SANParks Universal Access Champion,
Chris Patton, who was invited to the park to advise on what issues needed to be addressed to create a viable level of universal access. SANParks’ Dr Hugo Bezuidenhout and Cornie Jonker were also co-opted to provide their respective areas of expertise to the projects and their various costings. For some years now there has been a viewing deck, called the Montego Deck, that allows views to the east towards the town of Graaff-Reinet itself, but there was no accessibility at the nearby ablution block, no accessible route from the parking area to the Valley lookout, and no accessible platform at the Valley lookout. These three initiatives were identified as the priorities to make the Valley more accessible, and so began a lengthy process of engagement to provide all the above targets. In 2019 the first phase on the campaign towards universal access was achieved through the upgrade of the existing public ablutions block at a sponsored cost of R95 000, handed over to the park on 6 March 2020. Then of course the journey was stalled a little by the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But four years after the accessibility crusade started in 2018 enabled by the significant sponsorship of
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SANParks TODAY
R130 000 by the Mountain Zebra and Magaliesberg regions of the SANParks Honorary Rangers, a 60m² viewing platform with an unrestricted view and shade covering was presented by Granaat to SANParks and thus the public at large. The most challenging phase of the Valley of Desolation UA Project is still to come with phase 3: The walkway… During phase 3 of the project, a 240-metre universal access pathway from the parking area to the new viewing platform will be constructed. The estimated cost of this phase of the project is about a R1 million as the walkway will have to be elevated to ensure less disturbance to the environment, and recycled plastic in the form of polywood will be used as a surface boardwalk. The walkway will be 1 metre wide with periodic passing widened nodes and benches every 50 metres. The walkway slope will try to limit
the gradient to 1 in 20, to be within local and international accessibility standards. A funding request was sent out in 2021, but Granaat is working on additional local technical and financial support. To further this aim, Chris Patton (SANParks Visitor Services Content Manager) and Andre Riley (Acting Regional Manager for Frontier Parks) were invited to travel through and attend the handover of the viewing platform to address a gathering of interested locals and media in an effort to inject a greater understanding and awareness of Universal Access, its requirements, and the economic and social benefit in achieving inclusivity. So one woman’s initiative to see her local tourism attraction recognised has snowballed and gathered a momentum that should see Camdeboo becoming an accessible tourism hotspot, and for that we salute her.
...continued from Page 4 parks to appropriately respond to the needs of the 21st century customer. • Socio-economic transformation – Our goal is to position our national parks as catalysts for local economic development and to fully integrate communities and land claimants into the business of SANParks. • A world class sustainable, responsive and prosperous organisation – Under this theme our immediate priority is to initiate an organisational re-engineering programme in the 2022/23 financial year to ensure that all our systems, processes, human resources and technology are supportive and aligned to Vision 2040.
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A questions and answers session was allowed for staff to engage the leadership. Answering a question about why some people have the same job title and responsibility and do the same job, but are at different Paterson levels, Ms Umlaw explained that Paterson Grading moves from lower to upper, meaning one can be doing the same job and will be paid within a certain band. That did not mean that staff will be paid the same salary, Umlaw explained. SANParks COO, Ms McCourt committed to improve visibility of EXCO members, adding that the virtual imbizos have assisted EXCO members to be more visible as S&T budgets have been cut.
SANParks TODAY
SANParks Supports Communities Around Garden Route By Reynold Thakhuli
Garden Route community members with their certificates
In the interest of supporting sustainable livelihoods in communities adjacent to national parks, SANParks handed over of food, gardening and angling equipment to the Wilderness Heights, Klienkrantz, Smutsville and Rheenendal communities in the vicinity of the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park in the Western Cape. In his address, SANParks Managing Executive for Parks, Mr Property Mokoena, said this initiative is part of SANParks’ Community Social Legacy Programme aimed at addressing a broad spectrum of community social needs. “We are proud to be handing over this much needed equipment as part of our Food Security and Angler Support programmes, which will both make a difference in the lives of the people living near the Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park.” He said, “SANParks has adopted these programmes to safeguard against poverty by encouraging food gardens at home and also to provide skills for sustainable fishing while recognising indigenous knowledge in the area of food security and sustainable angling.” Mokoena said in collaboration with the Garden Route Biosphere reserve a total of 30 pensioners from the Smutsville community will benefit from the angling project where their indigenous knowledge will be utilised for future generations. “The ideology behind the project is to ensure that
there is an intergenerational skills transfer with youth learning from the pensioners, while also addressing the issue of illegal fishing. The programme also aims to assist pensioners with fishing permits as they depend on marine resources as food.” “The Community Social Legacy Projects are funded from the 1% tourism income on all accommodation bookings. Over the last four years this is estimated to have been between R6 million to R7 million per annum.” “To date SANParks has provided schools with administration buildings, science and computer laboratories, mobile libraries, playgrounds, kitchen facilities, ablutions and school desks to mention a few. During 2020 to 2021, as part of the SANParks COVID-19 Relief Programme, the Social Legacy Fund invested its proceeds to provide much needed support in the form of food hampers to 8 500 needy families, 80 water tanks, hand sanitisers and surgical masks to communities neighbouring our national parks,” concluded Mokoena. The Food Security and Angler support launch was attended by the local community members, young and old together with the Executive Mayor of Knysna, Mr Levael Davis. The programme was divided into two parts whereby the first part was awarding certificates and handing over of tools, and the second part was the unveiling of signage where the community members fish.
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SANParks TODAY
On the Green Couch with Bra Laz Makitla By Annie Makalane and Katlego Morulane
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.” Bra Lazarus Makitla – Multimedia Officer, Groenkloof National Park
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
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“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.
SANParks TODAY
New Tourism Investment Opportunities On Offer In National Parks 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
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SANParks TODAY
The New Change Management SOP By Tumi Mphahlele
Effective communication is a vital tool for any business or organisation. It contributes towards the success of any changes that occur within the organisation. According to the change management principles every change should be communicated to eliminate change resistance. The change management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared and implemented to monitor compliance around changes that are implemented within SANParks. The ECM change management team is always working hard to ensure staff in all the regions and parks are informed about technological changes occurring within SANParks. The Enterprise Applications Development team were busy with the Metastorm and ECM migration process during Quarter 1. During that process they managed to migrate SCM Travel Booking and the S&T process. This migration process was communicated through the SANParks intranet and the information broadcast. More SANParks business processes will also be migrated during Quarter 2. The Change Management team will organise more ECM refresher training sessions. We would like to also thank all the ECM change agents who were fully involved in the ECM testing and piloting activities. Now is the time to manage documents, records and files digitally within SANParks Records Management is important and it is certain that information governance declares the authenticity and availability of records and files. This also supports compliance of the government laws and industry regulations. Records Manager
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always ensures that creation and retention of both paper and electronic records are correctly managed. This is where records are identified and preserved for historical and research purposes. The EDRMS project is progressing very well and we have to speed up the process of transforming from a paper-based way of managing documents, records and files to a digitalised and advanced manner. During Quarter 1 the records management team was working towards the goal of finalising the permission model sessions. Colleagues, change is difficult but if we can work collectively as a team, we will definitely produce positive results. Therefore, it is always important to attend those EDRMS consultation sessions and workshops. Your input is valuable and needed. Real change is difficult in the beginning, but gorgeous at the end. Change begins the moment you have the courage to step out from your comfort zone!
SANParks TODAY
The advantages of EDRMS within SANParks No. 1
Advantage Improve business efficiency
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Support strategic direction
3
Maintain accountability
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Manage risk
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Optimise business continuity
Description EDRMS allows organisations to make use of their value through faster access and retrieval of information. EDRMS implementation will direct and support continual improvement throughout the organisation. EDRMS can be used to comply with different applicable laws and regulations since accountability is promoted. EDRMS will increase risk reduction. There will be a proper management of records since it contains the audit trails as part of evidence. Providing SANParks with proper records and information management systems such as EDRMS will prevent the loss of vital records and information. This will also simplify the process of preparing the disaster recovery plan.
Colleagues, you are advised to liaise with the Records Manager related to all documents, records and files that are placed anywhere in your offices and he will advise you accordingly.
...continued from Page 9 desirous to co-operate and collaborate as partners in youth development to improve the socio and economic well-being of the youth in South Africa. The Youth in Conservation of South Africa has a role to mobilise young people of South Africa behind biodiversity conservation, focusing more on the youth adjacent to the parks: I. To promote economic participation of young people within the Biodiversity Economy sector. II. To increase the participation and involvement of youth in conservation matters through awareness and capacity building programmes. III. To affiliate, monitor and evaluate youth development programs within the biodiversity conservation sector. SANParks’ business operations are founded on three important core pillars: Conservation, Responsible Tourism, and Socio-Economic
Transformation. SANParks, through its SocioEconomic Transformation programmes promotes development in the rural areas adjacent to and in the vicinity of national parks. SANParks has taken a strategic decision to implement a youth focused development programme that will ensure youth access and participation in a number of opportunities for sustainable socioeconomic development including biodiversity economy, skills training, eco-tourism and business opportunities. SANParks manages a system of 19 functional national parks in seven of the nine provinces of South Africa, with a total area of just over 4 million hectares comprising 67% of the protected areas under state management. The SANParks of today is recognised as a world leader in conservation and protected area management. In the last two decades, seven new national parks have been established, totalling over 700 000 hectares, with much of this being under conserved biomes such as the Succulent Karoo and Fynbos.
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ARID NEWS
Succulent Poachers Convicted to Seven Years in Jail By Genevieve Maasdorp
Halfmens succelents poached in ARTP
South African National Parks announced the conviction of two succulent poachers from Richtersveld. Members of the Ranger Corp assisted by the botanical team and South African Police Services affected the arrest and the consecutive sentencing and convicting of the two members of the public who endangered Halfmens trees within |Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park.
be possible to rehabilitate the specimens back into their natural habitat, it is seen as a major loss for conservation and has a very negative impact on the specific population. The species are of great value and are seen as a valuable asset to the |Ai|Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, which is the only National Park in South Africa where the species is being conserved.
The Richtersveld National Park is a contractual park jointly managed by the local community board, called the RGBK, and SANParks. It is the only National Park where people are allowed to live and continue with livestock farming within a national park.
Four suspects were arrested, of which two turned state witnesses and assisted with the conviction of the other two who were sentenced and convicted on Thursday, 21 April 2022, to seven years in jail.
SANParks finds the removal and permanent damage caused by the removal/destruction of the 14 Pachypodium namaquanum as one of the worst cases in the history of the Richtersveld National Park due to the significant cultural, tourism and natural value the plants have for the organisation and the South African public. Due to the sensitivity of the species as confirmed by various specialists, and the fact that it will not
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According to the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) Part 7, 16 (Offences and Penalties) (1) (b) No person may have in his or her possession or under his or her control, or to offer or expose for sale or display to the public, any specimen of a species listed in the Appendices which was not legally acquired; (2) A person contravening sub regulation (1) is guilty of the offence and shall be liable on conviction to (a) a fine not exceeding five Continued on Page 14...
ARID NEWS
6th Annual Klipspringer Challenge Trail at Augrabies Falls By Christine du Plessis
Taking on the challenging Augrabies Klipspringer race
The Augrabies Falls National Park has recently hosted the 6th running of the Klipspringer Challenge with participants from as far as Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa during the weekend of 30 April to 1 May 2022. It consists of two days of tough, spectacular trail running in the Kalahari Desert and in and along the magnificent Orange River in the world class Augrabies Falls National Park. There are two races per day, the Challenge which consists of 65km over two days (33km and 32km) and the shorter Lite race of 40km over two days (22km and 18km). The river and the falls were truly spectacular, actually peaking on race weekend at 2 792 cumec (for context, the usual flow around Klipspringer time is between 50 and 100 cumec). This made for an awe-inspiring, once in a lifetime experience for the runners. Day one was a run in the remote, pristine northern section of the park, north of the Orange River.
Although the natural abundance made for some tougher going, it was an exhilarating experience topped off by some festive hospitality at the Khamkirri Race Village, watching the swollen river fly past. Day two was back in the main southern section of the park, starting and finishing in the Rest Camp camping area. After some adjustments and detours affecting the usual route at the start, runners were treated to the incredible sight of a full Orange River raging through the canyon below while they negotiated the rocky terrain along the rim, popping out at what can be considered as the world’s most spectacular water table at Ararat – probably the best viewpoint in the country on that day. The most significant change to the route from previous years was that Challenge runners could not safely access the gorge to follow the traditional route along the river. Plan B was to head south up to the higher terrain, offering magnificent views over the park
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ARID NEWS
and the impressive spray produced by the raging falls, especially the almost constant solo cloud of spray made by the many cascading falls floating above it. Most of the runners loved the detour which was perfectly suited for faster runners and made for slightly quicker overall race times. The results were as follows, with four runners from the Northern Cape in the top 12: CHALLENGE Men 1. Pieter Laubscher (Northern Cape) 6h11m05s 2. Cornelius Rall (Gauteng) 6h11m44s 3. Jakob Volmoer (Western Cape) 6h25m22s Women 1. Kate Mapham (Western Cape) 7h35m10s 2. Karen Carstens (Western Cape) 8h27m22s 3. Frances King (Botswana) 8h38m22s
...continued from Page 12 million rand or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding R10 million or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years; or (b) in both instances referred to in paragraph (a), both such fine or imprisonment; or (c) in the case of repeated offenders, a fine or imprisonment or both a fine and imprisonment as referred to in (a) above and being banned from ever applying for a permit to trade in CITES listed species again. In the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004, Chapter 4 (Threatened or Protected Ecosystems and Species), Part 2 to 57, the following is stated: Restricted activities involving listed threatened or protected species and species to which an
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LITE Men 1. Doug Rush (Namibia) 3h25m17s 2. Sello Ramaloko (Gauteng) 3h42m04s 3. Hanro Schoeman (Northern Cape) 4h03m48s Women 1. Kate Nugent (Northern Cape) 4h27m39s 2. Delida Nugent (Free Sate) 4h37m13s 3. Ilana Human (Northern Cape) 4h43m10s Water points were sponsored and enthusiastically manned by McDonald’s Transport, Raisins South Africa, ORC and the team from the Augrabies Falls National Park. The rest of the park staff and the team at Khamkirri were at their very best, ensuring runners had the times of their lives and will be back for Klipspringer Challenge 2023.
international agreement regulating international trade applies (Heading of Section 57 amended by Section 5(a) of Act 14 of 2013): (1) A person may not carry out a restricted activity involving a specimen of a listed threatened or protected species without a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7. All plants in the Northern Cape Province are protected and a permit is needed to remove, transport or possess plants. Lucius Moolman, the Regional General Manager welcomes the conviction and says the following: “We, as SANParks, consider the poaching of succulents a very serious act and will not tolerate these acts from members of the public and will not rest until each and every suspect is convicted and the poaching has stopped.”
ARID NEWS
Green House for Richtersveld’s Botanical Garden By Genevieve Maasdorp
Construction of the brand new greenhouse for ARTP
SANParks and SANBI are pleased to announce the generous donation of a state of the art net house facility which was donated to the Richtersveld Desert Botanical Gardens by the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS). This net house, called the BCSS Green House is a conservation initiative to rescue various plant species from poachers. In the long term more or less 170 species of succulents and bulbs targeted for the illegal trade market will safely be grown in the secure facility. The plants will be used for seed harvesting and these seeds will be used for rehabilitation to be sold online and hopefully curb the need of illegal harvesting by providing an opportunity for succulent lovers to legally obtain their desired plants and grow them. It is more practical to grow
plants from seeds, and more rewarding, as they acclimatise to the growers’ conditions and provide better-looking plants than to poach them illegally. A further addition to the donation are the more than 400 plant species in the gardens and various Conophytums in the Conophytum House, of which seeds will be made available online via Silverhillseeds in the near future. The project operates under legal permits. It is crucial that the public doesn’t buy any plants without being 100% sure they are legally obtained and sold with the necessary permits. The donation from BCSS is to the value of R520 000. |Ai|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is grateful for this donation and the botanical team are very excited to start with this project to curb illegal succulent poaching.
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CAPE NEWS
A New Project Pairs Table Mountain and Reunion Island National Parks Protecting the ‘Mountains in the Sea’
SANPArks, AFD, PNR
SANParks (the public institution managing South Africa’s national parks) and the Agence Française de Dévéloppement (AFD) launched the bipartite agreement between the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and Reunion Island National Park worth €1.5 million. The agreements were signed at a ceremony attended by Mr Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of the AFD, and Dr Luthando Dziba of SANParks. The funding is allocated to support park actions that facilitate sharing of knowledge and experiences between South Africa and Reunion Island. The implementation of this project is part of the co-operation agreement signed on 28 February 2019 in Pretoria (South Africa) between PNR and SANParks. The project will benefit from €1.5 million in financial support from AFD, including €1 212 730 to SANParks and €287 270 to Reunion Island National Park. “Biodiversity conservation is one of France’s priorities. France hosted the World Conservation
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Congress in 2021. Through this exemplary regional co-operation project, France is providing concrete support for the preservation of biodiversity in southern Africa and the Indian Ocean,” said Aurélien Lechevallier, Ambassador of France to South Africa. The project focuses on a territory-to-territory cooperation between Reunion Island National Park (PNR) and Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in Cape Town. TMNP, nominated as the main project partner, is managed by SANParks, an internationally recognised reference for protected area management. SANParks oversees the management of 67% of the country’s terrestrial protected areas. TMNP covers 25 000ha of natural areas located in the heart of Cape Town, stretching to the tip of the Cape of Good Hope. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 and is the most visited park in the SANParks network with 5 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic). The PNR was created in 2007 and is a French public institution. Its territory covers 70% of the island’s surface area with a central zone that houses 94%
CAPE NEWS
of the island’s endemic biodiversity. The park attracts around 1 million visitors per year (pre-pandemic) and manages the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The indigenous people of the Cape, the Khoisan, knew Table Mountain as Hoerikwaggo, “the mountain in the sea”. Towering mountains rising immediately adjacent to the ocean are a dramatic and remarkable feature of both parks. Reunion National Park covers 70% of Reunion Island’s surface area, with a central zone that houses 94% of the island’s diverse endemic biodiversity. Both parks have UNESCO World Heritage status and conserve highly diverse ecosystems and cultural heritage sites of great global value. Joint challenges include invasive alien species, illegal plant harvesting, protecting threatened species, climate change and restoring degraded habitats.
preparedness, training, pilot field interventions, awareness raising activities and joint studies and research.” Dr Dziba said the expected project impacts include strengthening know-how and skills for the biological control of invasive alien species and associated restoration, for example, integration of new detection tools from aerial images, antipoaching, and analysis of risks. In addition, project outputs will address management of vulnerabilities related to the effects of climate change and its consequences for the territories of PNR and TMNP, governance and dialogue with stakeholders involved in the management and use of the parks, and management of the World Heritage sites.
Both SANParks and PNR will contribute expertise and collaborate on improving park management. The project will enable new collaboration opportunities with partner research bodies including the University of Reunion, CIRAD and the University of Cape Town. According to SANParks Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dumisani Dlamini, this peer-to-peer project will allow the teams of the two parks to strengthen their capacity by exchanging experiences around park management. “The main project activities include developing strategic plans and sharing tools for invasive species management, vulnerable species management, fire management and climate change
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CAPE NEWS
Ecological Burn – Table Mountain National Park By Lauren Howard-Clayton
Ecological Burn – TMNP
SANParks conducted a prescribed ecological burn in the Lower Tokai section of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP). Approximately 7 hectares of veld has been burnt. Prescribed burning is conducted under suitable weather conditions and at appropriate time intervals to encourage reproduction and growth in fynbos species and to prevent the build-up of fuel loads. While a number of fuel reduction burns have been conducted in the area, this was the first prescribed burn to take place in the selected block in Lower Tokai. Fynbos relies on fires every 10 to 15 years. If fynbos doesn’t burn often enough, proteas and other bushes get too old and their reproductive ability declines substantially. But if fynbos burns
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too often, reseeding shrubs can be lost, and resprouting species and alien species can take over. According to Dr Marna Herbst, SANParks Regional Fire Ecologist, “fire plays a critical role in maintaining the diversity for which the park secured its status as an integral component of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage Site. Fire is not only a management tool for sustaining the rich diversity of the fynbos biome by returning nutrients to the soil, stimulating regeneration and opening up space for seedlings and bulbs to thrive, timely prescribed burns also reduce the risks that wildfires pose to property and human lives, especially on the wildland-urban interface.” Thank you to firefighting crews from TMNP, NCC Environmental Services Working on Fire Volunteer Wildfire Services, TMNP Tourism Monitors, and the SANBI Kirstenbosch volunteers.
CAPE NEWS
SANParks Launches the Draft Tokai Cecilia Implementation Plan for Public Comment By Lauren Howard-Clayton
conservation, heritage, communications, safety and security, facilities, and health and wellbeing of both people and nature. The groups’ submissions contain a wide range of visions and 300+ proposals for action in the Tokai and Cecilia areas.
Following months of consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, SANParks published the draft Tokai Cecilia Implementation Plan (TCIP) for public comment in terms of the Tokai Cecilia Management Framework (TCMF) Review Process. An online information session hosted by SANParks Executives, Acting CEO Mr Dumisani Dlamini, Mr Property Mokoena (Parks) and Dr Luthando Dziba (Conservation Services), highlighted the background and objective of the draft TCIP and outlined projects and programmes earmarked for implementation in the Tokai and Cecilia areas of the Park. According to Mr Property Mokoena, Managing Executive for Parks, “Publication of the draft TCIP is a key milestone in the TCMF review. It marks the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by our stakeholders and staff. This is reflected in the high quality, large number, breadth and insightfulness of the recommendations we received.” During phase 2 of the TCMF Review Process SANParks appointed external facilitators, Fixed, to assist the convenors, Prof Wendy Foden and Dr Howard Hendricks, in designing and facilitating focused workshops. These stakeholder-driven workshops involved establishment of seven Working Groups comprising stakeholder and SANParks representatives: fire management, biodiversity
Proposals have been individually evaluated and grouped into themes and streamed into strategic actions. Those that align with or can be accommodated within the existing Park Management Plan are incorporated as ‘Programmes’. These include long-term ongoing activities that occur across the wider TMNP as part of normal park operations. Proposals that are area specific and/or project-based and typically involve an upgrade development or a change in use of a site or facility have been incorporated into the draft IP as ‘Projects’. Plans include development of the Tokai Manor precinct as a visitor and tourism gateway for broadscale recreational activities into the rest of Tokai and the park, and opening of an Arboretum parking area and Lister’s place. Also included are ongoing upgrades to trails and recreational facilities, and a range of actions to improve fire management, safety and security and stakeholder communication. Large-scale alien removal, fynbos restoration and wetland rehabilitation are covered, all of which contribute to the park’s World Heritage Site status. An extension of the MTO forestry plantation lease will be investigated, and trees planted to provide shade in suitable areas for the future. Environmental education and interpretation plans include celebrating the diverse histories and cultural heritage of the area. The invaluable role that volunteers and partnerships are already playing in developing Tokai and Cecilia was gratefully acknowledged. Mr Dumisani Dlamini, Acting CEO of SANParks said, “Good plans rely on a wide diversity of views and inputs. We’ve engaged with each and every recommendation and believe that this draft plan is a great foundation for management of the Tokai and Cecilia sections of Table Mountain National Park.”
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FRONTIER NEWS
One Step Closer to Universal Access to Valley Of Desolation – Camdeboo National Park By Fayroush Ludick
Marié de Vos from the SANParks Honorary Rangers Mountain Zebra Region, Acting Park Manager, Johannes Jaantjies and Chantelle Marais from Granaat at the official handover
The panoramic view from Camdeboo National Park’s Valley of Desolation is a major tourist drawcard to the quaint Karoo town of GraaffReinet. With an ever-increasing number of elderly and mobility-impaired visitors over the years, the need arose to provide universal access to the world-renowned lookout point, along with supporting ablution facilities and a new viewing platform. In 2017, Granaat, a Graaff-Reinet club that has been providing support to Camdeboo National Park for the past 20 years, took the lead to develop a technical proposal in collaboration with the relevant experts from South African National Parks. Not long after, the plans were approved for construction. The ablution facilities at the lookout parking area were upgraded and handed over to the park in 2019. As a second step, a new viewing
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platform, to the value of R250 000, was recently completed. Both projects were fully funded by the SANParks Honorary Rangers – the official volunteer organisation of SANParks – and managed by Granaat using local contractors. The professional engineering inputs were provided by SCIP Engineering Group at no cost. The new viewing platform was officially handed over to Acting Park Manager, Johannes Jaantjies, at a short ceremony at the Valley of Desolation on Tuesday, 10 May 2022. The handover was performed jointly by Chantelle Marais on behalf of Granaat and Marié de Vos from the SANParks Honorary Rangers Mountain Zebra Region. Granaat is working tirelessly to secure funds for the construction of a 250m universal access pathway from the parking lot to the new viewing platform, which will see their dream of a fully accessible Valley of Desolation realised. The estimated cost for this part of the project is about R1 million.
FRONTIER NEWS
IUCN-SOS Grant Support for Black Rhino Monitoring in Three National Parks By Stef Freitag-Ronaldson
A rhino notching operation
SANParks is halfway through the implementation of a 12-month International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Save Our Species (SOS)* COVID19-relief grant which was awarded in July 2021. Co-funded by the European Union**, this grant is helping monitor critically endangered black rhino populations in three national parks. South Africa and Namibia are the only range states of the south-western black rhino, Diceros bicornis bicornis. SANParks is the custodian of the vast majority of the South African populations in Addo Elephant, Mountain Zebra, Karoo and Mokala National Parks. The project has enabled foot patrols, camera trap identification and/or aerial surveillance in the Addo Elephant, Karoo and Mountain Zebra National Parks. Furthermore, financial support has enabled the ear notching of calves before separation from their mothers at around 18 to 20 months of age.
This ensures rhinos are individually recognisable. Thus far, the funds have supported and enabled ear-notching operations in two parks, 21 fixedwing flights, ranger foot patrols, the procurement of 30 new camera traps and ongoing servicing of existing and new cameras across the study sites. These efforts contribute significantly to monthly rhino sightings databases, updating of identikits and report compilation. In addition, staff have been trained in field data collection application software. These funds have enabled increased population monitoring and assessment of population vital rates for this threatened species. This information is then used to inform management decisions and conservation outcomes. Notching operations have increased the target of having rhino of notchable
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FRONTIER NEWS
Award-Winning Sydney Mikosi Now Heading Up Activities in Addo By Fayroush Ludick
Award-winning Sydney Mikosi now heading up activities in Addo
The Jungle Encyclopedia, aka Mr Dung Beetle, aka Sydney Fhumulani Mikosi seems to have adapted well to his new environment at Addo Elephant National Park. Appointed to the position of Activities Co-ordinator as of 1 April 2022, Sydney already knowledgably speaks of the park as if he’s walked the length and breadth of it for years. Many within SANParks will know Sydney from his time at Marakele National Park where he started in 2009 as a Senior Guide and was promoted to Head Guide in 2012. He remained there until 2018 when he was head-hunted by multi-media company, Wild Earth, where he worked as an international wildlife television presenter in conjunction with National Geographic. He also presented on SABC channels where he was involved in Wild Earth’s School Enrichment programme, sharing his knowledge and love of the African bush. During his career as a guide, Sydney lined up an impressive number of awards over the years. “In
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SANParks I was harvesting Regional and Kudu Awards. My most recent achievement was the coveted national Lilizela award for the Best Nature Guide in South Africa in 2019,” says a notably proud Sydney, who has 19 accolades under his belt. Asked about his return to SANParks, he says, “I came back because I felt a need to give back to the organisation which provided me with so many opportunities, enabling me to share conservation with the whole world.” In terms of guided activities, Addo currently offers a variety of game drives. Sydney says he is brainstorming ideas with his colleagues to introduce new products. These may or may not include guided bush walks, bush braais and marine eco-tours in the Addo Marine Protected Area. “My team of six guides and I strive to give our game drive guests an unforgettable experience. In terms of customer care, I’d like to think that we are the best!”
FRONTIER NEWS
“The Addo guides are very enthusiastic and innovative. I am a firm believer in knowledge sharing, skills development and learning from one’s peers. Since I joined the team, I’ve been going out on drives with them regularly, in an attempt to learn about the park from them and to impart the knowledge I have of the African bush with them. We are learning from one another all the time,” says Mr Dung Beetle. “While I was away from SANParks I was also a freelance lecturer for the SA Wildlife College where I was teaching Guiding. I was also freelancing for the NMI Training Centre in Polokwane, teaching Nature Conservation and Resource Guardianship. And finally, I was with UNISA doing coaching and mentoring for final year Conservation students
...continued from Page 21 age individually marked from a baseline of 80% to 87% overall across the three populations. This is a significant increase, particularly since the number of notchable calves is constantly changing as animals reach notchable age throughout the year and they grow into the appropriate age classes. In November 2021, representatives from IUCN and the EU conducted a field mission to Addo Elephant and Mountain Zebra National Parks to familiarise themselves with this project. In Addo, delegates were welcomed by SANParks staff who provided short presentations on the park, background to the project being funded and progress. Delegates were taken on a game drive through sections of Main Camp and Nyathi to experience first-hand the challenges of black rhino monitoring in subtropical thicket and mountainous terrain.
towards improving their conservation interpretative skills,” says Sydney. Visitors have already started raving about Sydney’s presence on drives. Khanysio Thabethe wrote, “Not enough can be said to express the insight, interest and knowledge of not only our tour guide, Sydney, but also the unbridled enjoyment one is bound to feel throughout the journey with him. There is always something to be found during the trip, and although not always large, his unmatched ability to inform and entertain the passengers on his drive to the point where one might even forget about the larger animals entirely. This activity is a must for not only a nature enthusiast but also for the entire family. It is never, ever boring and is sure to leave an unforgettable memory for anyone who attends. We salute you, sir!”
Delegates also visited Mountain Zebra National Park where they spent an enjoyable afternoon exploring the park and learning about black rhino monitoring operations. The delegation was thrilled with sightings of a black rhino while on a game drive. * IUCN Save Our Species aims to improve the long-term survival prospects of threatened species. It also focuses on supporting the species’ habitats and working with the communities who share this habitat. It achieves success by funding and co-ordinating conservation projects into multiple initiatives across the globe. ** The Member States of the European Union have decided to link together their knowhow, resources and destinies. Together, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders.
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FRONTIER NEWS
Edward Moumakoe – A Creative Conservationist By Fayroush Ludick
Addo Elephant National Park’s new Anti-Poaching Security Manager, Edward “Billy” Moumakoe, describes himself as a creative by heart and someone who’s always been a nature lover. He never thought he’d have a career in conservation, though. Graphic design was always the dream but the stark reality of the cost of a tertiary qualification in his dream field, coupled with a sign while cooking one day, led him to the field of conservation instead. “Now,” says Billy, “I think there is an art to security. The art of war.” The unassuming Billy grew up in Mabopane with his parents as the eldest of three brothers. “I had this brochure of North West University (NWU) in front of me one day as I was cooking, trying to decide what to study after we realised graphic design was just too expensive. I was stirring away and a piece of cabbage shot off the fork and landed on BA: Conservation, Tourism and Sustainable Development, and I took it as a sign. That is probably my fondest memory of how I got into conservation,” he says. Just as he was graduating, the North West Parks Board announced year-long internships to NWU’s students. Billy was placed in Borakalalo Game Reserve. This, he says, is where he well and truly fell in love with conservation. “There, in the field – it sparked something in me. From the older rangers, their conduct, their confidence in their knowledge of the bush, what they spoke about and their insights. That’s where it all fell into place,” he says. After his internship he applied for various posts internally and although not ideal, he was appointed as a gate attendant. He says he was just happy to be in the system. When a colleague told him about an anti-poaching unit selection session happening in Borakalalo, he was going to make sure he got it. Later in 2010, he started in his first APU position and hasn’t looked back since, with stints in Madikwe and Mafikeng Nature Reserves and Pilanesberg National Park, where he was based before his arrival in Addo in December.
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Mr Edward Moumakoe, Anti-poaching Security Manager
Asked to describe his job in laymen’s terms, as it’s a new position linked to the Wildlife Conservation Bond from the World Bank, Billy says, “As soon as someone comes from outside and starts taking things without permission, that’s where I come in.” “My biggest project is with the park’s surrounding communities. I’m still trying to understand them and what they’re all about. We can lock the park down from the inside in as many ways as possible, but no matter how tight it is inside, if the people outside are working against us, it creates loopholes,” he says. He says one of the things he’s striving for is to get the park’s neighbours to take pride and care of its contents, without even formally being a part of the protected area. In the process, his goal is to mould Addo’s rangers into ones who can withstand any poaching environment, irrespective of the challenges they face. He’d like to see the Rangers Corps able to adapt to any type of protection – whether it be of fauna and flora, their colleagues or tourists. Looking into the future, Billy says he wants his career to take him on a path of being able to effect change that will last. “I literally want to change the world and leave people with something they can be proud of and keep for years. I’d like to get to a point where I can refer to myself as a specialist in the field of tactics, approaches and reactions – to specialise in safety and security as a whole on the continent.”
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.
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KRUGER NEWS
Ground Water: Making the Invisible Visible By Khensile Moriri
Top 3 school learners show their prizes
Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) partnered with various stakeholders within the water management area (WMA) and hosted the final Science School competition during the National Water week 2022 on Monday, 7 March 2022 at Thulani Primary School in Mkhuhlu. National Water week is celebrated annually in March as an awareness campaign by the Department of Water and Sanitation to emphasise the value of water, the need for sustainable management of this rare resource and the role water plays in communities. “It is both exciting and overwhelming to form part of the stakeholders of the event as KNP. I personally cannot wait to see the models built by learners. Ground water is one of my specialties and I know for a fact how important water is and the critical role it plays to meet the demands in human uses. Take this challenge as a learning curve to unpack more around environmental
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issues, have fun and feel free to ask questions for clarity, as we are all here to learn from each other,” proclaimed Tercia Strydom, a scientist at the Kruger National Park. Five schools under the Ehlazeni district in Bushbuckridge, grouped in a team of five, showed off their talents and skills of creative work through the water models they have built out of recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Learners had to demonstrate their designs and illustrate how water will be extracted from the ground and supplied to communities, bearing in mind the theme “making the invisible visible”. Learners were evaluated based on the team’s ability to present a cohesive report of the model they had made; participation of each member within the team; verbal presentation; model appearance; efficiency and effectiveness of the water model. The event ended on a cheerful note where the top three learners took home trophies and E-learning tablets.
KRUGER NEWS
#KnowYourParks – Lower Sabie Rest Camp in KNP By Phokela Lebea
Lower Sabie Entrance – Gate –
Lower Sabie graces the banks of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to flow through the Kruger National Park. Visitors cannot help but feel soothed by the view towards the river and the Lebombo Mountains beyond. In this rest camp, the bounty and plenitude of nature is very evident, eloquently symbolised by the most conspicuous of its numerous trees, the mighty sycamore fig, which provides generously for the livelihood of many birds and insects. Not only do these giants produce fruit at least twice a year, but different trees produce fruit at different times, extending the gift of life over many months. Watching the endless procession of animals coming to drink at the Sabie River establishes a sense of one’s own place in the eternal cycle. Five things to look out for in Lower Sabie – leopard, hippo, lion, goliath heron and a giant kingfisher. Activities in the camp include guided bush walks, game drives, bush breakfast and bush braai, sunset
dam and Nthandanyati bird hide (approximately 11km from camp). Accommodation at Lower Sabie Rest Camp caters to a variety of guest requirements. Choose anything from luxury, self-catering, caravanning or camping accommodation for your stay in the wilderness. Lower Sabie has a designated day visitor area. There are also picnic sites nearby at Nkuhlu (± 20km), Mlondozi Dam (17km) and Tshokwane (43km).
Restaurant at Lower Sabie Rest Camp
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NORTHERN NEWS
Completion of the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Centre By Annie Makalane Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Centre
The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre construction reached completion at the end of February 2022. In April 2007, SANParks EXCO approved the planning of the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre to proceed with construction plans when numerous fossils were found in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. This find was unique in that it consisted of a nest of dinosaur fossil eggs with foetal skeletons discovered within Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The National Department of Tourism secured funding for constructing the Dinosaur Interpretation Centre in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, and it issued a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for this project to SANParks. It was envisioned that the marketing and exposure of this facility would attract an increasing number of visitors to the park and surrounding area. The research facility will allow visitors and students from all walks of life to learn about the study of archaeology, palaeontology and flora and fauna in the park. Concept architectural designs and an interpretation strategy were developed for the project during an earlier process, resulting in a broad cost estimate of R237 million. Funding was secured for R120 million and the original concept had to be adjusted.
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The Golden Gate Highlands National Park Dinosaur Interpretation centre was projected to be completed by July 2020. But, due to several challenges such as the COVID-19 lockdown, minor construction faults and the supply of raw material affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, the project was completed in February 2022. A concept plan for the layout, models and displays have been developed to focus the visitors’ attention onto South Africa’s dinosaurs and rich fossil finds. It is believed that at least 12 different dinosaurs occurred in this area, the most common being Massospondylus. The visitor’s experience ends with the Basotho mythology of a monster called Kgodumodumo which lends its name to the centre. Two commercial opportunities have presented themselves at the dinosaur centre, namely a retail outlet and a fast-food kiosk. Prospective bidders were invited and met with the Golden Gate Management to attend a site meeting at the centre. The bidding process is underway, and suitable bidders will be appointed. In addition to the staff in the centre and retail outlets, it is anticipated that the centre will attract secondary businesses such as cultural heritage artefacts and activities, as well as guiding on local trails or visiting fossil sites.
NORTHERN NEWS
Mapungubwe Commemorates Museum Day By Mulovhedzi Lufuno and Ramotshela Karabo
Mapungubwe Commemorates Museum Day
Museums play a crucial role in preserving local culture, interpreting and displaying objects of artistic, cultural or scientific significance for study and education. The theme for International Museums Day 2022 is “The power of museums”.
temporary exhibition was set up to display artefacts that were discovered at various archaeological sites for learners to touch and feel genuine artefacts.
Mapungubwe SET division commemorated this day on 18 May 2022 with the objective of raising awareness about the fact that museums are an important means of cultural exchange and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace amongst people. To celebrate this day Mapungubwe SET visited Fulufhelo Special School located at the Thulamela Municipality in Thohoyandou. The Grade 6 and 7 learners formed part of the event. Karabo Ramotshela, Assistant Curator at Mapungubwe, addressed the learners about the importance of International Museums Day and how to embrace museums. Lufuno Mulovhedzi, Interpretation Officer, presented a lesson about the history of Mapungubwe. A
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NORTHERN NEWS
Mapungubwe Celebrates Africa Month with Fulufhelo Special School By Mulovhedzi Lufuno and Ramotshela Karabo Africa Month is an international celebration and is commemorated during the month of May by a number of African countries. The purpose of Africa Month is to celebrate African independence and unity among African countries. Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site celebrated this day with the objective of educating learners that being from Africa is the best thing that has ever happened to them. Mapungubwe Socio-Economic Transformation Division (SET) commemorated this day on 18 May 2022 with learners from Fulufhelo Special School. To celebrate this day learners and educators were dressed in different traditional attires known as Minwenda, Xibelani and Nceka. The traditional attires represent the culture and the rich diversity of the African continent.
The learners also performed different traditional dances such as Malende, Tshigombela, Tshifasi, Xibelani, Muchongolo, Makhwaya and Ballroom dance. During the event African cuisine was served, including food such as Mopane worms, Tshidzimba (samp with beans), Bovhola (grinded nuts) and soft white and yellow pap.
Heroic SANParks Ranger to the Rescue By Gabby Venter
A SANParks ranger from Mapungubwe National Park recently saved a 3 metre-long python trapped underneath a truck. Innocent Lebepa, a Section Ranger at Mapungubwe said that a truck from one of the neighbouring farms stopped at the main gate and when the driver returned to the vehicle he heard a noise underneath the truck. “He called me to come assist when he saw the snake under the truck.”
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“The python was at least 3 metres long and I suspect that it was a female,” said Innocent. “In these types of situations, you would normally use tongs but this python was too big for tongs so I had to use my hands.”
Innocent Lebepa, Section Ranger, Mapungubwe National Park used his own hands to remove a 3 metre python from underneath a truck
“It took me about 45 minutes to remove her safely from where she was trapped. It was a fight from both our sides and I think we were both exhausted
afterwards. Once I had rescued her from the truck, I relocated and released the python near a waterhole inside the park,” said Lebepa.
NORTHERN NEWS
National Endangered Species Day – 20 May 2022 By Annie Makalane
Black Rhino, an endangered species
The National Endangered Species Day is celebrated globally every year in May. This year marked the 17th year of various wildlife conservation agencies celebrating their efforts to preserve the different types of endangered species internationally.
Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA). These are nationally protected species that can only be owned, hunted, picked, traded, imported, exported, transported, bred or grown with a valid permit.
Endangered species are regarded as animals, birds, mammals or plants which are seriously at risk of extinction. Should nothing be done to conserve those, the chances of these species going extinct would be very high.
A list of NEMBA-protected species is available at www.speciestatus.sanbi.org
Legally protected species are those that are threatened due to activities that can be regulated by permits, such as hunting or trade. World Wildlife Fund reports that few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves due to persistent poaching and habitat loss. The three critically endangered species of rhinos are Black, Javan, and Sumatran. So far, more than 142 000 species were assessed for the IUCN Red List. Most staff members would be more familiar with rhino, Cape vulture and the Knysna sea horse. The list of threatened or protected species is detailed in the National Environmental Management:
Ways of protecting the wildlife in your park or area: • Learn about the importance of protecting endangered species in your area. • Teach friends and family the importance of wildlife, birds, fish and plants in your area. • Visit a national park or wildlife area and keep in mind that all protected lands provide a place for wildlife, birds, fish and plants. • If living in a national park or close to a national park, ensure your home is wildlife-friendly. • Feed and lock pets indoors at night to protect them from attracting wildlife into your home. • Slow down and keep an eye on wildlife crossing paths when you drive in a national park. • Teach friends and family about recycling and using sustainable products. • Report any activity that does not protect wildlife, such as shooting, trapping or forcing an endangered animal into captivity.
conserving nature since 1926
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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS/HUMAN RESOURCES NEWS/ EMPLOYEE WELLNESS
New Appointments Name
Position
Park
Date
Paseka Maino
General Worker
Mokala National Park
1 May 2022
Shadrack Sebaku
General Worker
Mokala National Park
1 May 2022
Jerome Snyders
Field Ranger
Mokala National Park
1 May 2022
Verosa Snyders
Hut Attendant
Mokala National Park
1 May 2022
Asoned Bezuidenhout
Tourism Monitor
Augrabies Falls National Park
6 June 2022
Necha C Abrahams
Internship
Meerkat National Park
1 June 2022
Christoph Seemela
Field Ranger
Phalaborwa Ranger
1 May 2022
Nobert Muhlarhi
General Worker
Lower Sabie Rest Camp
1 May 2022
Vuyelo Maluleke
Hut Attendant
Mopani Rest Camp
3 May 2022
Juptar Malulele
Hut Attendant
Letaba Rest Camp
3 May 2022
Ramoshamane mmakoma
General Worker
Letaba Rest Camp
3 May 2022
Nemukhwatshoni Dakalo
Linen Room Attendant
Shingwedzi Rest Camp
3 May 2022
Bongani Brown
General Worker
Lower Sabie Rest Camp
09 May 2022
Sandrah Mathebula
General Worker
Lower Sabie Rest Camp
09 May 2022
Desire Shakoane
Hut Attendant
Pretoriouskop Rest Camp
9 May 2022
Hopewell Manzini
Hut Attendant
Pretoriouskop Rest Camp
9 May 2022
Sipho Lubisi
Hut Attendant
Berg-en-dal Rest Camp
9 May 2022
Selby Kola
Gate Official
Pafuri Gate
23 May 2022
Nolxolo Sono
Receptionist
Pretoriouskop Rest Camp
23 May 2022
Vusumuzi Ntlabathi
Hotel Manager
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
1 April 2022
Kgamogelo Elis Vuma
Field Ranger
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
1 April 2022
Kamogelo Mabowa
Field Ranger
Mapungubwe National Park
1 April 2022
Fhatuwani Nephalama
Field Ranger – Corporal
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
2 May 2022
Sebote Phineas Mpai
Hut Attendant
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
2 May 2022
Ayabulela Mbangata
Assistant Content Enterprise Manager
Groenkloof National Park
2 May 2022
Nokuthula Mathabathe
IT Security Officer
Groenkloof National Park
2 May 2022
Kaula Nyilenda
General Manager: Revenue and Yield
Groenkloof National Park
2 May 2022
Paula de Kock
Manager: Learning and Development, Parks
Groenkloof National Park
2 May 2022
Tholakele Phumelele Khoza
Bank Management Officer
Groenkloof National Park
2 May 2022
Ntlhamu Winslow
Hospitality Services Manager (HSM)
Satara
1 May 2022
Elvis Zwane
Electrical Trade worker
Skukuza Technical Services
1 May 2022
Simon Mkhatshwa
Refrigeration Trade Worker
Skukuza Technical Services
1 May 2022
Ntutsi Louisa
Camp Supervisor
Olifants Rest Camp
23 May 2022
Samkele Hinana
Section Ranger
Marakele National Park
1 April 2022
Reckson Mashaba
Section Ranger
Mapungubwe National Park
1 April 2022
Lewis Mphako
Field Ranger
Mapungubwe National Park
1 April 2022
Tintswalo Mafuwane
Hut Attendant
Lower Sabie
1 May 2022
Thoko Shakoane
Housekeeper
Berg-en-dal Rest Camp
1 May 2022
Arid Region
Kruger Region
Northern Region
Promotions
Transfers
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D L I W
G MAY/JUNE 2022 EDITION
Worker’s Month Our People, Our Success
In this issue... On the Green Couch with Bra Laz Makitla
Award-winning Sydney Mikosi now heading up activities in Addo
Edward Moumakoe – A creative conservationist
Heroic SANParks Ranger to the rescue
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A world-class system of sustainable National Parks reconnecting and inspiring society