SANParks GM: Infrastructure & Special Projects, Antionet van Wyk, said: "This development, together with the construction of a new entrance gate as well as two staff houses to support the camp, amounted to R10 million. The project has yielded 10,386 job days during the construction phase, of which 80% were sourced from local labour including sub-trades, such as electricians and plumbers."
The Agulhas National Park plays a major role in the economy of the area. Van Wyk commented: "Projects such as these are geared towards stimulating socio-economic development for the benefit of communities in the vicinity of the park. It should be noted in this regard that the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employs 448 people and 38 SMMEs in a range of projects in the area."
The launch of the new chalets is part of a great success story that started with the democratic dispensation post-1994. South Africa is celebrating 20 years of democracy this year and SANParks must acknowledge three important initiatives from the government that have led to a massive growth in the national park system during these years:
The funding for the various projects is part of the Department of Environmental Affairs EPWP budget. Over the past 14 years, SANParks has implemented projects to the value of R1.9 billion, creating on average 7500 jobs per annum. SANParks implements eight different EPWP programmes to improve the state of biodiversity, including the removal of invasive alien vegetation, the rehabilitation of wetlands, the rehabilitation of land and the support and monitoring of conservation functions in protected areas.
The Agulhas National Park is one of the flagship parks within the EPWP and employs 448 people and 38 SMMEs as part of the EPWP implementation. The value of the projects is R36 million for the current financial year of which at least 65% goes directly to wages or salaries of previously unemployed people. In a social impact study done about the impacts of these projects in Agulhas, it was found that the impact of job creation projects targeting local, historically disadvantaged individuals is of high significance as it addresses a critical need of employment creation in an area with few alternatives.
At the Kamoso Awards ceremony, held recently by the Department of Public Works, the Environmental Monitor Programme implemented by SANParks won the Best National Project Award. This award is testimony to the fact that SANParks has embraced the job creation and poverty alleviation programmes of the government to provide benefits to local communities adjacent to parks, while at the same time addressing threats to biodiversity.
With the development of the rest camp, the labour-intensive requirements of the EPWP programme for construction was incorporated in the planning, and SMMEs were appointed to cut and prepare the thatch for the roofs. "Using local natural resources and creating jobs has resulted in the chalets that have now been launched," said Van Wyk. "An effort is made to invest and train local small contractors during infrastructure projects and all the boardwalks in the park were also constructed by local teams."
SANParks is managing an estate of 4 million hectares and infrastructure plant of close to R10 billion including roads, fences, buildings and bulk services. This includes the construction of 23 new rest camps or wilderness camps adding a total of 648 new beds to our tourism inventory. The infrastructure and EPWP funds enabled the development of the Agulhas infrastructure.
"SANParks is in the 'forever' business: managing a sustainable parks system connecting to society. We remain committed to this and the launch of the seven new chalets in the rest camp is a celebration of the government's commitment to biodiversity conservation," concluded Van Wyk.
