The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Mr Willie Aucamp, invited Professor Eugene Moll, former University of Cape Town professor, renowned plant ecologist and botanist, to conduct a walk-through of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, following recent criticism regarding the state of the facilities.
Minister Aucamp and Professor Moll were accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Mr Shonisani Munzhedzi. Following the inspection, Professor Moll reported that he hadn’t realised that the facilities at Kirstenbosch are up to the standard that they are now.
He further confirmed that concerns relating to the succulent collections – an area in which he has a particular interest – stemmed from some challenges that Kirstenbosch experienced some months ago and that these issues have since been addressed.
Speaking after the visit, Professor Moll added that he hopes that, with further improvements as per the Minister’s directives, visitors will soon flood back to visit Kirstenbosch.
Professor Moll was among the experts who had previously expressed concerns about Kirstenbosch during a recent television interview. This visit by Minister Aucamp and Professor Moll included inspections of Kirstenbosch’s seed bank, succulent collection and all nursery facilities, providing first-hand insight into the scientific and conservation work being undertaken at the institution.
Minister Aucamp thanked Professor Moll for his willingness to participate in the engagement and welcomed his candid assessment.
“Although there are challenges that have got to be addressed, this visit confirmed that recent reports suggesting widespread mismanagement and decline at Kirstenbosch are not completely accurate and do not reflect the overall state of the Garden,” said Minister Aucamp. All challenges are being actively addressed through the clear directives and implementation timelines that the Minister has given to SANBI.
The public outcry largely stems from a social media campaign initiated by Mr James Deacon. Following complaints submitted by Mr Deacon in February 2026, SANBI met with him and conducted a walk-through at Kirstenbosch, after which both SANBI and Mr Deacon agreed that the matter was resolved. Notably, soon after the dismissal of an acquaintance of Mr Deacon’s at SANBI, he reignited the same allegations in the form of a social media campaign. The Minister has described Mr Deacon’s conduct as unconstructive and misleading.
Minister Aucamp further said, “This must not become a window-dressing exercise – my priority is to ensure that Kirstenbosch’s scientific, conservation and horticultural assets are properly maintained and protected so that future generations can continue to benefit from them.”
As part of this process, SANBI has been tasked by the Minister with implementing several improvement initiatives, including rebuilding a strong volunteer programme, strengthening succession planning and mentoring, expanding partnerships with local and international experts to support skills development, and developing innovative revenue-generation initiatives that contribute to conservation objectives.
Minister Aucamp emphasised that concerns regarding national assets must always be taken seriously, regardless of how they are raised. “Notwithstanding the manner in which some concerns have been raised, any issues relating to our national environmental assets deserve careful consideration and constructive engagement,” he said.
To this end, SANBI will continue to welcome collaboration with volunteers, specialists, researchers and interested stakeholders who wish to contribute their expertise and support to the continued success of Kirstenbosch.
“Based on what I witnessed during this visit, I remain extremely positive about the calibre, dedication and expertise of the professionals working at Kirstenbosch,” said Minister Aucamp. “As Minister, I remain committed to strengthening our botanical gardens and ensuring that these world-class institutions continue to serve South Africans and visitors from around the globe.”
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