uMkhuze Reserve Game
11 August 2006
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk,
released two adult male cheetahs into the uMkhuze section of the Greater St
Lucia Wetland Park today, marking the return of the world's fastest cat to the
natural wonderland from which they disappeared in the early 1900s. Cheetahs
were shot as vermin by cattle farmers and their rangeland was transformed by
various commercial forms of land use. The two cats are the first of four to be
introduced by the Wetland Park authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in an effort
to create a viable coalition of cheetahs in uMkhuze.
The return of these animals to uMkhuze took place as rural communities,
tourism operators and government leaders came together to celebrate the opening
of a new bridge over the uMkhuze River and a new tourism route in the Greater
St Lucia Wetland Park. The gathering was a tangible demonstration of the way in
which protected areas can contribute to economic growth and job creation.
Minister van Schalkwyk said during the bridge opening ceremony, "This event
marks a milestone in the development of the Lubombo Service Delivery Innovation
(SDI) tourism route and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Feeding directly off
the new Lubombo road, the new access road and bridge gives 20 000 people in
KwaJobe their first all weather access to Hluhluwe. It also creates an
unprecedented opportunity for the area to benefit from tourism. It means that
diving at Sodwana and game viewing in uMkuze Game Reserve are less than one
hour apart. This new tourism circuit will stimulate economic growth in the
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and will open a new world of opportunity for the
people of KwaJobe."
The total amount spent on the Ophansi entrance bridge to date is R9,5
million. An additional amount of R1,2 million will be spent on a gate and
community craft market. During the construction of the bridge 25 996 man days
of local employment involving some 120 people was created. On the job training
was provided in concrete works (mixing, steel fixing, placing), brickwork,
stone pitching, road sealing (surfacing) and the construction of storm water
culverts. People trained on this contract now have the opportunity to provide
skills and subcontracting services during the construction of the new gate
facilities.
In delivering the project, specific attention was paid to ensuring an
eco-friendly design which would not compromise the natural river dynamics or
the integrity of the structure. The new access road was aligned in such a way
that no homesteads were affected. All pre-cast piles and beams were
manufactured on site and the entire structure was built using local labour and
artisans, working under the guidance of the contractor.
The opening of the Ophansi bridge follows the launch of the new Lubombo
Tourism Route at the Tourism Indaba in Durban earlier this year. Minister van
Schalkwyk commented at that launch, "The member states of South African
Developing Community (SADC) have committed to developing tourism and especially
tourism in Transfrontier Conservation Areas, as a priority in the build-up to
the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The new Lubombo tourism route provides a great head
start in this direction. With the opening of the Ophansi entrance bridge today
we take another important step forward."
The Lubombo tourism route traverses southern Mozambique, eastern Swaziland
and northern KwaZulu-Natal and combines Maputo and Mozambique's beaches, the
mountains of Swaziland with South Africa's Kruger National Park and the Greater
St Lucia Wetland Park. It opens up one of the few places in the world where
tourists are able to dive on coral reefs and observe whales and dolphins at sea
within just a few hours of experiencing a big five game safari.
During the launch of the Lubombo Tourism Route, the Minister commented that
the task of mobilising new investment into the deep rural areas of this region
has been slow and tough. But he noted that to date far more benefits in terms
of jobs and community empowerment have been delivered than dune mining would
have done. For example:
* There has been a significant growth in tourism beds in the region
including a 60 percent growth in the number of establishments, a direct result
of the redevelopment of the park and marketing value added through its World
Heritage status.
* Agreements have been concluded in respect of six new lodges in the park.
These confirmed deals equate to well over 300 direct jobs. They have been set
up as community private and public partnerships (PPP) and give a significant
share to rural people who used to be excluded from the mainstream economy.
* There are 76 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) employing 1 520
people which are implementing the ongoing rehabilitation in the park. Also more
than 3 000 temporary jobs have been created each year for the past five years
in terms of building fences, new roads and new tourism infrastructure. And this
will continue in the foreseeable future.
* About 26 craft groups have been established in a park programme to develop
and market craft and they employ 600 people. These groups supply a major
retailer in Mr Price.
* The Wetland Park now includes one third of the province's coastline; 16
parcels of land that were fragmented in the 1990s have now been consolidated
into a single park; old military bases have been removed and ancient migratory
routes for many species of animals are being restored.
A major reason for this economic growth is the way the park has improved
infrastructure and increased the number and species of game. Commercial forests
have been removed from the eastern shores and a similar process is underway on
the western shores. Most importantly for tourism growth, a highly successful
anti-malaria campaign has all but eradicated the disease in the park for the
first time in many decades.
Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
Roland Vorwerk
Media and Communications Coordinator
Cell: 082 466 1251
E-mail: wetlandinfo@mweb.co.za
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
11 August 2006
