Media articles for your discussion.- Tue Aug 23, 2011

[iNdlovu]

Business Day 17 August 2011
THE International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an unusually powerful organisation. Headquartered in Switzerland, it is the oldest and largest environmental network and enjoys a membership of more than 1000 governments and NGOs. It supports research and manages field projects across the globe.
The Kruger National Park is a protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation. The IUCN’s abbreviated definition for this is an area whose ecological integrity is protected, where exploitation or occupation is forbidden, and which provides a foundation for spiritual, scientific and educational opportunities.
Along comes the European- based Rezidor Hotel Group, owner of the Radisson brand. It announces it has authority to build a 120-bedroom hotel inside Kruger. It has been given the nod by the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, and has the approval of SANParks.
The hotel will have five conference rooms, two swimming pools, a wellness centre and gym, a kids’ club, a cigar bar, a pool bar and terrace. The only thing missing is a gambling establishment. Perhaps Rezidor can sneak one in when no one’s looking.
How has this happened? The place to start is with Rezidor’s empowerment partner, Mvelaphanda Holdings, of Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale fame.
Anything else? Yes. The chairman of SANParks is Kuseni Dlamini. He is also an independent nonexecutive director of Mvelaphanda Group (he is CE of Old Mutual SA too). This smacks of a conflict of interest. I will be told that Dlamini recused himself from any discussion about the hotel. But that’s a feeble excuse. There are many ways of letting your views be known.
A jewel in SA’s crown is being plundered. It’s a disgrace. The IUCN will think so too.
• E-mail: david@gleason.co.za Twitter: @TheTorqueColumn