WITH no updates on its lease extension for the Krantzkloof Conference Centre, which came up for a two-year renewal on 1 April this year, the Kloof Conservancy handed back the management of the facility to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
According to the chairman of the Kloof Conservancy, a local non-profit organisation, Paolo Candotti, the necessary renewal documentation was submitted at the end of October in 2019.
Candotti said they had no feedback on the status of the renewal Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, a governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s head of corporate Affairs, Musa Mntambo, said the decision not to renew the lease and the for Ezemvelo to take over the running of the Conference Centre was taken when the body realised the SCM guidelines in the initial lease granted to the conservancy ‘were not followed’.
He said this could result in an audit query.
“Ezemvelo is just addressing that mistake,” said Mntambo.
In response to this statement Candotti said, “We assume this refers to an internal Ezemvelo problem as this issue has never been raised with us. We believe we have complied fully with all the requirements of the lease.”
The conservancy originally signed a lease in September 2015 and it was renewed on 1 April in 2018.
The NPO also highlighted that it was awarded the Ezemvelo Excellency Award for External organisations in 2017.
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In January 2016, the NPO took the lead role in refurbishing what was then the Interpretative Centre.
It was converted it into The Krantzkloof Conference Centre at a cost of R606 935, of which R321 935 was funded directly from conservancy’s reserves, R185 000 was funded by Ezemvelo for the tiling of the roof and approximately R100 000 was given in donations.
Mntambo said that it was part of a number of fundraising initiatives that resulted in securing funds to revamp the Centre.
“The donation agreement between Ezemvelo and the Conservancy is very clear regarding any developments made during the lease period. Such developments are taken as a donation and the organisation cannot be held at ransom and be made to continue operating in an illegal model because of such developments,” said Mntambo.
Since the revamp, the conference centre has become a popular venue for weddings and functions and has also been used as a community asset by NGOs.
Since the official relaunch four years ago, the venue has generated R383 765 in income.
The conservancy said that every Rand raised since the lease agreement started was used to either maintain or improve the centre, on projects in the reserve or to pay the lease fee to Ezemvelo.
“We do not understand the comment ‘the organisation cannot be held at ransom’ as we have never posed any conditions or demands on Ezemvelo,” said Candotti.
Mntambo said the conference centre would be given to a suitable concessionaire in the near future.
“We cannot pre-determine who that concessionaire will be. Krantzkloof will continue to maintain the centre as any other organisational asset until further notice,” he said.
In a note to its members, the Conservancy said it was willing to continue with the lease arrangement, if Ezemvelo would be willing to agree to it.
“As we have done for many years, we will continue to act in good faith and wish to provide strong support to Krantzkloof Nature Reserve as it is a significant biodiversity asset and of great value to the community of which we are a part of,” said Candotti.
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