Greater Balepye Nature Reserve (GBNR), situated close to Gravelotte, aims to conduct commercial activities as a concession to improve the quality of the lives of the members of the Balepye Community.
One of their social commitments is to provide a contribution of meat and maize meal once per month to a number of crèches in the Greater Tzaneen and Greater Phalaborwa areas.
The Balepye people restituted their land in the GBNR using South Africa’s land restitution laws in the year 2010.
The tribal leader of the Balepye community nominates crèches to receive these donations and aims to provide to those who are either the descendants of the original Balepye community, or have become a part of the community by living with them in their villages.
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The donations have been running for about three years and ten crèches receive these food parcels on a monthly basis.
The GBNR have additionally bought freezers for storage of the meat at each of the crèches.
Letaba Herald went along with Alrina and Clinton van Tonder, managers of the GBNR on Thursday, February 15 to help deliver the donated 20kg of meat and 25kg of maize meal to two crèches in the Modjadji circuit.
Alrina van Tonder told the Herald, “we deliver to crèches as the Government do not subsidise meals at crèches, only at Primary Schools.”
Herald visited Rarara Pre-Primary School in Matshwi Village and Ramopai Crèche in Ga-Rasewana Village which is the feeder school for Letseku Primary School.
Obed Maenetja, Letseku Primary teacher and Deputy Chair of Balepye Community Property Association (CPA) told the Herald, “the GBNR is trying to practice anti-poaching and they are teaching everybody, including learners about anti-poaching.
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“Looking at the community, they have decided to donate meat and maize meal. They are trying to donate for our kids. It is helping as they bring it every month.
“The community appreciate it, they are more than happy. A child cannot get educated while they are hungry.
“These children must get older knowing that poaching is not good. Thanks to the management of GBNR for the great job.”
