Media Release: SANParks Opens Eight Science Labs As Part Of SA National Parks Week
09 September 2019
SANParks Chief Executive Office Fundisile Mketeni officially opened the South African National Parks Week (SANPW) 2019 at Bontebok National Park, near Swellendam, on 8 September 2019. Under the theme ‘Know Your National Parks’, the week-long campaign encourages citizens through the #LiveYourWild campaign to visit a national park for free from Sunday, 8 to Sunday, 15 September and be part of a worldwide campaign.
South African National Parks (SANParks), as a conservation agency, continues to play a leading role in the country by ensuring that every citizen gets an equal opportunity to access national parks for free. SANParks, in line with its vision of ‘A world-class system of sustainable national parks reconnecting and inspiring society’ is committed to hosting SANPW annually for all South African so that they can experience the beauty and serenity of our national parks.
SANParks Chief Executive Office Fundisile Mketeni said: “This week is an opportunity to showcase all the national parks as key and affordable local holiday destinations which offer unique experiences that families and individuals from all backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and communities can enjoy“. South Africa’s national parks are renowned globally because of their world-class conservation practices and ethos.
For over a decade FNB has supported this initiative, primarily because it raises awareness about the importance of conservation and has brought the parks closer to our communities,” Dr Simphiwe Madikizela, Provincial Head for Gauteng: FNB Public Sector Banking.
Sunil Gandhi, General Manager Strategy Total South Africa says Total South Africa’s association with SANParks is long-standing, and we have sponsored the Free Access Week since its inception. Total South Africa is committed to raising awareness about the importance of environmental education and the need to sustain the beauty of our national parks added Gandhi.
Mketeni further added that SANParks is committed to raising awareness about the importance of environmental education and the need to sustain the splendour of our national parks. “As an organisation, we have a Social Legacy Programme which is part of SANParks initiatives to support the communities that stay adjacent to the park by providing them with infrastructure and related resources in areas of education, health and other identified needs’’ highlighted Mketeni.
“SANParks continues to pledge its support for education through the provision of much-needed facilities such as the refurbishment of the Swellendam Secondary School Science Laboratory that will be opened on Monday 9 September as part of SANPW. This science laboratory will officially be opened by the SANParks CEO together with seven other science laboratories that have been donated to no fee-paying schools across the Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Western Cape provinces” added Mketeni.
In conclusion, Mketeni invited all South Africans to explore a national park near them and find out why we need to conserve these natural environments for future generations. “Visit a National Park today and #LiveYourWild.”
Discover all there is to do and see in our national parks if you join us online for SA National Parks Week. We will be presenting a different theme each day, where we will explore the different experiences on offer in our parks. Visit our website at
www.sanparks.org/about/events/parks_week/ for more information and follow #SANationalParksWeek and #LiveYourWild on social media, to join in the fun.
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Media Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
Acting Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999
Email:
rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org