Poor Fencing has Devastating Effects on Escaping Animals

[Klipspringer]

https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/ne ... y-31419880

Fence contract under scrutiny
NEWS / 28 AUGUST 2019, 10:05AM / MERVYN NAIDOO

DURBAN: A multimillion-rand contract to erect a barrier that would confine wild animals to a game reserve and safeguard locals, is under scrutiny following the escape of several predators that have been killing livestock and terrorising people living alongside a game reserve. It has emerged that gaps in the fence at Hluhluwe Imfolozi-Park (HiP) was allegedly due to the corrupt awarding and handling of a fencing tender worth more than R30 million. This has resulted in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s board ordering a forensic investigation into how their technical services department handled the 160km fencing contract that was awarded to SA Fence and Gate. Vinay Bositsumume, head of forensic investigations with Morar Incorporated, an audit firm, confirmed that they were mandated to probe the “appointment of the fencing contractor and whether the deliverables on the contract were met”. Ezemvelo spokesperson, Musa Mntambo, said they had recently received Morar Incorporated’s forensic report and that five people who were suspended were still to face disciplinary hearings. Mntambo said, in May, they had also filed criminal charges against SA Fence and Gate regarding the contract that was awarded in June 2016. Mntambo said they were disappointed that SA Fence and Gate had only completed 80% of the work but had received full payment. He also claimed that the work done was not in accordance with the tender specifications and that led to the subsequent investigations. “Among other shortcomings, they used material which did not comply with the agreed specifications.” Mntambo said when a request was made for additional funding to complete the fence, their board called for an investigation. He was not prepared to share the forensic report because it was “confidential”, and said its recommendations would soon be implemented. Mntambo said there was about 45km of incomplete fencing, excluding repairs on the work SA Fence and Gate had done. “No new contractor has been appointed. “Instead, 240 community members will be hired to erect the fence. “They will enter a contract, which lapses in December 2019.” Mntambo said material for the outstanding fencing would cost R2m. Mark Smit, SA Fence and Gate’s national operations manager, said they had “no knowledge of criminal charges and no one at the company has done anything illegal in relation to this contract”. Smit insisted that his company conducted itselves professionally throughout the project and complied with all specifications of the contract, as customer satisfaction was one of their core values. “Our monthly progress reports to our clients are detailed, complete with photographs of completed sections of work,” said Smit. He confirmed that they received R30 600 586 between June 2016 and September 2017 in the form of 13 progress payments. “On delivery of agreed project milestones, the deliverables were verified by Ezemvelo and a payment certificate (was) issued,” Smit said.

Smit said all their project documentation was intact and was available as evidence or for reference purposes.

He said their main challenge on the project was Ezemvelo’s refusal to respond to their 13 “notification” documents, which related to issues of concern like technical queries, risks or delays.

“Sadly, seven of our notifications were about civil disruptions that presented life-threatening risks to our employees and subcontractors.”

Smit said they employed and trained about 150 people from the local community on the project.

As zones and contracts on the project were completed, local people were demanding more work and when they couldn’t be accommodated, they made threats and became aggressive, Smit claimed. In one incident, Smit said their employees were attacked and severely injured by aggressive community members who were armed with machetes. On another occasion staff were held at gunpoint on a site, Smit said. In November, Ezemvelo received a “work stoppage notification” from the company. Outstanding approval of funds for variation orders and unresolved community risks were some of the issues raised.

Smit said they moved staff and equipment off the site in December 2017 when “it became clear that Ezemvelo had no intention to resolve the issues raised in our notifications”.

“We are not aware of any investigations being carried out or reports being compiled by an individual or third party. We welcome any independent investigation into the project,” he said.


SUNDAY TRIBUNE

[Richprins]

Almost inevitable.

[Klipspringer]

http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/lion-o ... e-reserve/

Lion on the loose in KZN after escape from Game Reserve
28 August 2019, 1:05 PM | Bongani Morake | @SABCNewsOnline


One lion was shot dead during the search, while another managed to escape.
KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvelo Wildlife rangers are still searching for a lion that escaped from the uMfolozi Game Reserve. It is believed that on Monday two lions escaped.

KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvelo Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo says one lion was shot dead during the search, while another managed to escape. Mnmabo would not be drawn into why the lion was shot dead and not simply darted.

“We received a call on Monday regarding those two lions and our guys went to look for them on Tuesday and one was shot dead and the other one ran towards the park so we assumed it was inside the park. But our guys are still looking for it because it might be injured where it is.”

Mntambo says repairs on the reserve fencing that had been damaged; allowing the lions to escape, is underway.

“We’ve employed more than 250 people who are going to put a new fence around Hluhluwe and uMfolozi Park.

They have been working in the park from August 19. They are there until towards the end of December.”

[Lisbeth]

Again!

[Klipspringer]

https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/kzn- ... s-31536158


KZN lawmakers try to calm lion escape fears
NEWS / 30 AUGUST 2019, 5:00PM / NCAMISILE MKHIZE, KAREN SINGH


Durban - AFTER a pride of lions escaped from the Hluhluwe-­Imfolozi Park three weeks ago and killed several cattle, KwaZulu-Natal lawmakers will conduct an oversight visit and hold a community meeting in Nongoma today.
The legislature’s Conservation and Environmental Affairs portfolio committee chairperson, Celiwe Madlopha, said they would be meeting the eMasokeni and Ngolotshe (Mona River) communities at the Ngolotshe Lower Primary School.


Madlopha said some of the lions had been captured, while others were still at large, posing a danger to communities living around the park.

She said she would seek ways to strengthen the partnership between communities and the park’s authority to avoid incidents of this nature in future.

“Sadly, this hole in the fence is reported to have been created by bush meat poachers, and that is where the need for partnerships comes in,” Madlopha said.

She added that they would discuss how to better deal with poaching.

KZN Wildlife and the committee vowed to investigate the loss of livestock, including compensation for those affected.

“A number of commitments were made by KZN Wildlife, and the portfolio committee will follow up and ensure that these commitments are met.”

She added that a smart fence would be erected, which would give a signal when the fence was tampered with or broken. Ezemvelo said about 45km of fencing around the reserve would be replaced, while some sections were in need of repair.

Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo said the cost of the fencing would be R2.2 million.

He said no repairs had taken place yet as they were still waiting for the supplier to deliver the materials.

Mntambo said the initial estimate of the number of lions that escaped was 13, but added that it was difficult to determine the exact number.

“The modus operandi of these lions is that they go out, attack livestock, and when they are full go back to the reserve until the next time they are hungry,” said Mntambo.

He added that the community had noticed the place the lions used to escape and had placed a trap there, and subsequently caught two of them.

“We had field rangers on the ground and we hired professional hunters to help us as the safety of the community is of paramount importance,” he said.

Earlier this week a third lion was killed by a ranger in the Mahlabathini area in Ulundi, which neighbours the game reserve.

The Induna from Makhalathini area, Aaron Zuma, said there were around 300 families living near the reserve.

Ngolotshe ward 11 councillor Nhlanhla Mthembu thanked The Mercury for intervening in the crisis.

“The situation has returned to normal in Ngolotshe and cattle owners have been paid,” he said.

The Mercury

[Lisbeth]

He said no repairs had taken place yet as they were still waiting for the supplier to deliver the materials.

A couple of days ago they had started to repair the fence

The people who damage the fence come from the communities.

The poachers come from the communities.

The traps put up most likely hurt/kill the animals

Surely the number of cattle killed has been increased

Next time a fence gets damaged, make the community pay for it. I have nothing against the communities, but right is right and wrong is wrong.

[Richprins]

The communities can patrol the fences and guard them from outside!

[Bushcraft]

Next time a fence gets damaged, make the community pay for it. I have nothing against the communities, but right is right and wrong is wrong.

and no compensation for livestock otherwise the door opens for this to continue

[Klipspringer]

[Lisbeth]

KZN mends fences to protect community from wildlife attacks

Tuesday, August 27, 2019
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has assured the community of Nongoma that work is being done to protect them from wildlife attacks.

The community has suffered attacks to their livestock after lions, leopards and hyenas escaped from the nearby Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Park through a damaged fence.

At a recent meeting with the community, Dube-Ncube said: “We shall put a stop to this. We have already fixed many parts of the fence and we don’t want this to happen again.”

She apologised for the anguish the community has suffered.

The provincial Cabinet received a report from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife on the escape of lions from Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Park. The report stated that 13 lions had escaped through a damaged fence around the reserve.

This resulted in 19 cows and five donkeys being killed allegedly by lions. Two lions were killed by the community, while 10 others were put down by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

One lion is said to be still on the loose and continuing unabatedly with the reign of terror. It is being sought by game rangers.

The issue has caused huge rifts between the community and the management of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, requiring urgent government intervention.

Dube-Ncube said the policy by Ezemvelo, which only compensated victims whose livestock is killed by lions and excludes paying damages to those whose livestock is killed by leopards, will be reviewed. The policy has caused uproar among the residents.

“This policy will be reviewed urgently. It would be an injustice if we compensate others and exclude other victims whose livestock is also killed by wildlife that has escaped from the game park.

“This game reserve is your asset. It exists because of you. Surely we can co-exist,” the MEC said.

Expanding economic benefits for the community

Dube-Ncube said her department will use the Expanded Public Works Programme to give employment opportunities to residents.

With regards to the levies generated by Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Park, Dube-Ncube said such dividends should be a benefit derived by the communities.

“These opportunities should be distributed equally among all residents and all traditional councils that border the game park. We will also attend to issues of water and sanitation, and Ezemvelo will ensure that your jojo tanks are filled with water, as there’s no water here,” she said.

Dube-Ncube said well stocked water tanks will decrease need for people going to the river, thereby being exposed to wildlife. – SAnews.gov.za