New EIA Malelane Lodge

[Lisbeth]

Sanparks has lately been talking a lot about transparency, but it stays as a word and is not put into practise, especially in a case like this where they are "loosing face", so better be quiet about it

All the interested and (don't remember the word) parties ought to be informed though, as that is what they were promised.

[H. erectus]

All the interested and (don't remember the word) parties ought to be informed though, as that is what they were promised.

Interested and affected parties would be the word and quite correct Lis,
I was never privy of any such info from the source .gov, where the matter
lies for argument!! .Gov approved the applicant, Sanparks sitting in jubilation,
the applicant not forthcoming. To be quite frank this rather questionable
situation that Sanparks have, has little importance to us, rather more the
fact that .gov owe us obligation in the sense of any decisions taken, we are
listed appellants to what we believe is ill decision on behalf of .gov

Not Sanparks!!!! They are the mickey mouses dangling at the end of
entertainment threads!!!

I have yet and so are you, to be informed, officially, that this project has
been cancelled!!

It was a mere gesture by happy flap mouth G. Phillips!!, at the 10 year meet!!

[Richprins]

There is a media jaunt going on in Skuks as we speak, and Mr Phillips is still carrying on about no NEW development in the South, only existing ones. Not very clear at all about the Malelane venture, and seems it is very much still on the table. Anyway, I sent the following reminder of some EXISTING plans for the South:


Malelane Hotel (250 bed)
Mdluli Safari Lodge Concession (Numbi) (200 bed)
Nkhuhlu Tented Camp (15 tents)
Selati Train Accommodation (Skukuza Bridge) (60 bed)
1-2 Picnic Spots
Mobile Tented safari Experiences
Mobile Spas and Wellness Centres
Mthetomushwa entrance gate (Century City)
Matikitiki Trails Permanent trails camp 10 Trail Tents with kitchen and ablution

[Lisbeth]

That's quite a lot How can they manage to get them all finished?

[RogerFraser]

I came across another quote from Mr philips in an Afrikaans paper showing this is still on the plans :


https://www.pressreader.com/south-afric ... 6845502322

original :
‘Stropers raak meer aggressief’
Die Burger18 Apr 2018Elise Tempelhoff
Veldwagters het drie groot vrese: dat olifantstropery in die Krugerwildtuin verder toeneem, die renosterbevolking afneem en dat een van hul kollegas in die stryd teen stropers sterf.

Só het Ken Maggs, hoofveldwagter van die Krugerwildtuin, Maandag op ’n mediakonferensie in Skukuza gesê.

Van begin 2016 tot einde 2017 het olifantstropery met byna 50% toegeneem, sê Maggs.

Veldwagters is ook besorg oor hul eie veiligheid, want stropers raak al hoe meer aggressief.

“Gelukkig het ons nog nie een veldwagter in die skermutselings verloor nie.”

Van hulle is egter al gewond. Boonop is veldwagters heeltyd bekommerd dat hulle van moord aangekla sal word as hulle ’n stroper doodskiet.

“Hoe meer tegnologie ons gebruik om stropers te beveg, hoe meer aggressief raak hulle. Die spanning raak soms te veel,” sê Maggs.

In 2016 is 46 olifante gestroop en in 2017 het dit tot 76 toegeneem.

Dit is nog onbekend hoeveel olifante al vanjaar gestroop is.

In 2017 is 502 renosters in die wildtuin gestroop en 662 in 2016.

“Veldwagters wat by ’n renosterkarkas staan, besef dat dit nie net nog ’n dooie dier is wat daar lê nie.

“Dit is die eindresultaat van georganiseerde misdaad waarin grootkaliberwapens gebruik word.”

Hy meen baie van die wapens word in huisbrake geroof.

Maggs sê 2 miljoen mense woon aan die westekant van die wildtuin. “Almal kyk na die wildtuin vir werk. Ons kan nie al die mense in diens neem nie.”

Die wildtuin verskaf werk aan 2 250 mense.

Oor die bestuur en bewaring van renosters sê hy spesiale beskermingsones is vir die diere geskep en bulle word gereeld geskuif om die genepoel gesond te hou.

Hy sê wat wel positief is in die “verskriklike stryd” is dat meer verdagtes buite die wildtuin gevang word as daarbinne.

Glenn Philips, uitvoerende bestuurder van die Krugerwildtuin, sê ’n nuwe bestuursplan word opgestel.

“In die plan word duidelik uiteengesit hoe die gemeenskappe aan die grens van die wildtuin bemagtig moet word om voordeel uit bewaring te trek.

“Dit is noodsaaklik dat dié mense entrepreneursvaardighede geleer word sodat hulle finansieel op hul eie bene kan staan.”

Philips sê die wildtuin vestig vennootskappe met sy bure om sonkragplase op te rig wat die wildtuin sal bevoordeel.

“Ons is ook besig om met hulle te onderhandel om groentetuine aan te lê sodat hulle dit aan die restaurante in die wildtuin kan verskaf.”

Hy sê die wildtuinbestuur wil meer verantwoordbaar aan die Suid-Afrikaanse burgerlike gemeenskap wees.

Hulle streef ook daarna om deursigtiger te wees.

Aan bekommerde wildtuinliefhebbers het hy gesê benewens die Malelane-tentkamp en die Skukuza Lodge (wat tans in aanbou is), gaan geen verdere ontwikkeling suid van die Sabierivier toegelaat word nie.

Google Translate :
'Poachers get more aggressive'
Die Burger18 Apr 2018Elise Tempelhoff
Rangers have three big fears: that elephant poaching in the Kruger National Park further increases, the rhino population decreases and one of their colleagues dies in the fight against poachers.

That's what Ken Maggs, Kruger National Park leader said on Monday at a media conference in Skukuza.

From early 2016 until the end of 2017, elephant poaching increased by almost 50%, says Maggs.

Veldwagters are also concerned about their own safety, because poachers are becoming increasingly aggressive.

"Fortunately, we have not lost one ranger in the shootings."

However, some of them have been injured. In addition, rangers are always worried that they will be charged with murder if they shoot a poacher.

"The more technology we use to fight poachers, the more aggressive they become. The tension sometimes gets too much, "said Maggs.

In 2016 46 elephants were stripped and in 2017 it increased to 76.

It is still unknown how many elephants have been stripped this year.

In 2017, 502 rhinos were poached in the park and 662 in 2016.

"Rangers standing at a rhino carcasses realize that it's not just another dead animal lying there.

"This is the end result of organized crime in which large-scale weapons are used."

He believes many of the weapons are robbed in house robberies.

Maggs says 2 million people live on the west side of the park. "Everyone looks at the park for work. We can not employ all the people. "

The park provides work for 2 250 people.

Regarding the management and conservation of rhino, he said special protection zones were created for the animals and bulls are regularly moved to keep the gene pool healthy.

He says what is positive in the "terrible battle" is that more suspects are caught outside the park than inside.

Glenn Philips, executive director of the Kruger National Park, said a new management plan was being drafted.

"The plan clearly sets out how the communities at the border of the park should be empowered to benefit from custody.

"It is essential for these people to learn entrepreneurial skills so that they can be financially on their own."

Philips says the park establishes partnerships with its neighbors to build solar plants that will benefit the park.

"We are also negotiating with them to put vegetable gardens in order to provide them to the restaurants in the park."

He says the wildlife management wants to be more accountable to the South African civil society.

They also strive to be more transparent.

To worried wildlife enthusiasts he said that in addition to the Malelane tent camp and the Skukuza Lodge (currently under construction) no further development will be allowed south of the Sabie River.

[Lisbeth]

That's a lot of elephants It was to be expected, but why has the number not been published before? Almost six months of 2018 have passed and they know for sure the number of elephants poached this year!!

I still do not understand why it is Sanparks' job to lok after the communities. Apart from that it is excellent if they can find a way to occupy more people, but not to sustain the costs, that is the responsibility of the State!

[Richprins]

Rog.

Phillips said to us after Skuks hotel it was the end...

[Flutterby]

The end of what?

[Richprins]

The end of "new developments", whatever that means.

[Flutterby]