Guest wrote:Please see the following:
MINISTER
QUESTION NO. 2278 FOR WRITTEN REPLY: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
A draft reply to Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope) to the above-mentioned question is enclosed for your consideration.
Ms Nosipho Ngcaba
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
Me B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
(For written reply)
QUESTION NO. 2278
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 26 NW2650E
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 26 August 2011
Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope) to ask the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
Whether her department intends to consult with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) with regard to the proposed 120-bed hotel in the Kruger National Park; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope)
SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT
HANSARD
PAPERS OFFICE
PRESS
2278. THE MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ANSWERS:
No. The responsibility of conceptualizing, planning, establishment and management of all types of tourism facilities in national parks is the responsibility of the Board of the South African National Parks (SANParks) in terms of Section 57 of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No 57 of 2003, as amended. There is neither an obligation nor historical precedence of the national Department of Environmental Affairs or its predecessors of consulting the IUCN on tourism development within national parks. The IUCN, as an international NGO, does not interfere in the national jurisdiction or internal affairs of its member countries. The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is confident that the SANParks Board will apply its responsibilities on the basis of available scientific information to conceptualize, plan, establish and manage the proposed 120 room hotel in Kruger National Park in the same manner as it conceptualized, planned and managed the Golden Gate hotel over the last 40 years
Sprocky wrote:The way that I read this is that SANParks have the final say and all trust has been given to them already. Please tell me that I am misunderstanding something.
iNdlovu wrote:You read it correctly Sprocks. Dept of Environmental Affairs have passed it all over to SanParks
Lisbeth wrote:Easy Peasy, the government has washed the hands, no responsibility.........only the one that they have passed it over to Sanparks.
Considering that the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs said:
"We are empowering our communities by ensuring that they take equity of between 20-30% of these hotels as part of our corporate social investment programme and a commitment to sharing benefits beyond boundaries. "
They ought to contol the tax payers money a bit closer.
In the speech that the minister held at the opening of the Sanparks week, the Golden Gate Hotel had just been opened and now it is 40 years old. The minister has not studied the lesson before the speech.
