Africa Wild

On e-Nuus tonight on Kyknet - controversial rezoning of Kruger National Park approved!!!

Anyone with more info on this, please?

The controversial peripheral development zone (PDZ) for the Kruger National Park has been approved, Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Monday.


Source: http://www.citizen.co.za/citizen/conten ... e-approved

... "Molewa said the corridor would strengthen attempts to curb rhino poaching through the establishment of a joint task force.

The purpose of the PDZ is to use the conservation corridor to facilitate cross-border tourism, to stimulate investment into the corridor, as well as into neighbouring communities in Mozambique," she (Min Edna Molewa) said.

Curb rhino poaching? How???? What, by declaring it a no-go zone???? Planting landmines????

And just as laughable:

1. Facilitate cross-border tourism????

2. Investment into the corridor????

3. Investment into a neighbouring country???? What about our own citizens????


I am speechless. Shocked beyond belief. O

We are fighting a losing battle against these money chasing fat cats!!!

Its all so inevitable. Almost a foregone conclusion!!!!! I brought up the subject outside Court last week and was told by someone supposedly in the know that "it would never happen" - well it has and it opens the doors even wider for more slaughter of our rhino along with the foisting of unwanted and unnecessary hotels on KNP. Do SA citizens not have any rights to protest anymore about anything or is everything just inching forward one step at a time until we are voiceless and accepting of whatever the Government thinks will make them more money and put more more and more filthy lucre in the hands of the wrong people?????? Grrrrrrrr this has thoroughly pissed me off this evening!

Dunno, what to say... Been jumping between other posts because
I don't have any words... I would have never thought that the re-zoning
plan would be approved... Not sure whether to get frigging mad or start
crying... Probably both...

2012-06-11 19:21

Johannesburg - The controversial peripheral development zone (PDZ) for the Kruger National Park has been approved, Water Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Monday.

The PDZ is aimed at creating a conservation corridor between the park and Mozambique's Greater Lebombo Conservancy.

Molewa said the corridor would strengthen attempts to curb rhino poaching through the establishment of a joint task force.

"The purpose of the PDZ is to use the conservation corridor to facilitate cross-border tourism, to stimulate investment into the corridor, as well as into neighbouring communities in Mozambique," she said.

Commercialisation

The approval of the PDZ comes after sharp criticism from conservationists, who believe the park should not be commercialised.

A lobby group called "Against Interference in Kruger and other National Assets" (Aikona) was established shortly after SA National Parks (SANParks) proposed the PDZ.

Aikona wanted the minister to first undertake a public participation process before approving the plan.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Molewa said she had consulted key stakeholders in Mozambique and South Africa, including tourism officials, the defence force and the police.

Aikona has contended that SANParks wants to establish a lavish hotel inside the Malelane gates, which it sees as exploitation of a vital national resource.


- SAPA

Notice how the minister conveniently hides the fact that this PDZ goes around the whole circumference of Kruger. Very convenient just to mention the Moz border

As they say in Afrikaans,...die koel is deur die kerk.

Time for boycott action!!!

Today marks the end of our national parks.