Kruger Park Rhino Levy

[Lisbeth]

I told them to stop building V.I.P. Hotels a Skukuza and a lot of money could be saved for the anti-poaching

and also a few other things about the cost of wild cards for foreigners and accommodations that are not worth the price that they are asking

[Richprins]

This is very dangerous territory indeed, IMO. As Robert and Lis say, SANParks' priorities regarding finances went out of the window a long time ago regarding vanity commercialisation projects and politics. It is too late now to suddenly return to what is effectively a conservation issue as a financial priority. They should redirect all financial resources mentioned above in that direction, then, according to this logic, until the "crisis has abated". (I would suggest beginning with the Community Levy) . After all, the Minister has assured us this year that the war is being won against rhino poaching in SANParks.

I am also reminded of the promises made that increased gate quotas for the Soccer World Cup in 2010 were temporary and would be restricted again after the tournament. This did not happen.

The term "ring-fenced finances" is impossible to entrust to any State Owned Enterprise in South Africa, as has become abundantly clear. This is why many NGO's, including us, refused to have anything to do with the central state-controlled rhino fund some years ago, and I suspect donors are withdrawing due to corruption now too, but that will come out.

Obviously everyone wants to help, but this "enforced charity" sets an ominous precedent indeed. Next we may have an elephant poaching levy? Also, communities will demand that money should be added to their tab anyway.

No. Stick with what resources we have and improve anti-corruption within SANParks and relevant ministries.

The survey is a smokescreen. This levy was already mentioned at the public participation meetings IN PASSING.

[rayb]

Elephant Poaching Levy? They'll have a levy for every impala sighted.

[Lisbeth]

Remember everybody, that we, the members of Africa wild are informed. The public in general are ignorant when it comes to what is happening outside the news on the television. Moreover information on the poaching problem is not on the front pages anymore.

[H. erectus]

Aye, but Sanparks are becoming a very dubious lot!!!

Quick to plead poverty, yet very slack in producing forthwith
stats to prove!!! Read this on FB,...What ever happened to all
the monies Buffet granted???, and Gen. Jooste, and so forth and
so forth.

Sanparks seems to have developed this total lack of shamelessness!!

Worst of all those wats will continue at justifying this lousy behavior
by Sanparks!!

Good grief!!!!!!

[H. erectus]

Lis, over the years and since inception, Sanparks
have managed to establish this almost holy respect
onto themselves. To such degree the whole world
eating so called integrity, from the palm of their hands!!

Sanparks cannot and will not accept a common audit on
their integrity!! It may and will reflect a rather sickening
state of management!!

They have been surfing the wave of good intent by public
input without ever having to provide any answers, in good faith!!

To my mind just another no-no para-state organ sponging off
the goodness of true public concern!!! This "out on the take"
that Sanparks are portraying must stop!!!

Soon it will be having a very negative effect!!!

[Mel]

I had an email inviting me to take part in this survey

So they have found another way to milk the people. The poaching is an emotive topic and the people can now be held to ransom. So they now ring fence this money for poaching and that releases other money for more hare brained ideas like hotels, spa's and all that other gumpf they did a survey on couple of months ago.

Basically what I told them in my reply

[okie]

I said in my response that the daily conservation fee should be used for anti-poaching .
It should be noted that this already collects around R200 million every year from Kruger National Park alone


Also suggested that the 1 % " community fee " should be used to educate the local communities to stop poaching .

[Lisbeth]

[nan]

Also suggested that the 1 % " community fee " should be used to educate the local communities to stop poaching .

that is the most important... I think