SANParks' Corporate Social Investment Programmes

[Richprins]

Exactly, Dewi, and it has been happening for a number of years..no rocket science needed, and paid for by SP conservation money! Lots of buses, lots of young conservationists, and well done to SP in that regard! Makes perfect sense!

[H. erectus]

Goombye 2.2, childrens just be happy!!

It was well intended though it never reached
your way!!!

[Toko]

R22m project gives school toilets

By: Thabisile Khoza
2013-06-09 17:30
Bushbuckridge - Teachers at Dumisani High School in Cork village near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, now have toilets and a staffroom thanks to an initiative to ensure that national parks support their neighbouring communities.

The school, which borders South Africa's flagship reserve, the Kruger National Park, has been given a R22m administration block.

"We don't know what to say to because they have given us an opportunity to produce better results in our school. We can now work in our own office in our own time," said school principal Winnie Nkuna.

She said previously the school didn't have a staff room or toilets for teachers.

"In some instances educators had to drive to neighbours to relieve themselves but now we have these beautiful toilets for female and male educators and also for learners," she said.

The administration block has five offices, two staffrooms, two restrooms, a kitchen, two storerooms, and one strong room.

The school has 1 375 pupils, 48 teachers, eight support staff and seven kitchen assistants.

Spokesperson for South African National Parks, Reynold Thakhuli said the initiative was part of SANParks efforts to reversing the legacy of the past by addressing some of the community’s material needs.

He added that keeping in line with the United Nations Environment Programme's requirements, SANParks will also host a number of eco-friendly activities this year.

“Our planet’s regenerative capacity is being greatly exceeded as the world’s population is now producing and consuming more resources than ever, there are however many possibilities as for how we can change our unsustainable consumption habits while also improving our quality of life,” he said.

[Sprocky]

How much more money are these clowns going to give away instead of using it on conservation?

Mabunda and all his cronies should move to a position in .gov and let conservationists take over the custodianship of all our National Parks!

[Flutterby]

Definitely a worthy cause, but not for SANParks!!!

[Toko]

But it's totally inline with the new concepts - protected areas are no longer only that, but have become a tool to generate income to be spent on other issues than conservation purposes The mandate is no longer conservation of biodiversity, but social investment, job generation and economic growth.

[Mel]

Isn't educating and generally satisfying people's needs part of conservation in a kind of way.

[Sprocky]

Isn't educating and generally satisfying people's needs part of conservation in a kind of way.

I don't think so Mel. In that case there is nothing wrong with satisfying the needs of Asians by supplying them with Rhino horn.

Nature conservation is not about the needs of humans, there are other channels to satisfy that demand. We need conservationists to take charge again!

[Mel]

Agreed, but people who are happy with what they got are less inclined to become poachers
which then again will save the animals, i.e. the rhinos. Same goes for people who understand
the value of a rich biodiversity.

[Richprins]

There are a lot of ifs and buts and maybes, which is government's problem. Far more pressing issues now for SP!!

For example, try explaining to those children in a few years' time why rhino have disappeared in their area, commercialisation of their "Golden Goose" Kruger has led to a tourism fiasco with foreigners going elsewhere and locals being priced out of the market and going elsewhere....