MEC pays visit to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
During her visit last week, the MEC interacted with game rangers who work under the department's entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
AS the tourism industry gears for the reopening of international borders on 1 October, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube paid a visit to popular tourist attraction Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).
During her visit last week, the MEC interacted with game rangers who work under the department’s entity, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
‘As the department we must ensure access to economic opportunities for every citizen of this province: district-to-district, wall-to-wall, door-to-door.
‘I want to thank you for your dedication in the preservation of our biodiversity and wildlife. I pay tribute to law enforcement agencies that are working with game rangers under difficult conditions.
‘Our wildlife and eco-tourism in general is what attracts domestic and international tourists to this province,’ she said.
Her visit to the park, known as the ‘birthplace of the Rhino’, follows World Rhino Day which is commemorated annually on 22 September.
Dube-Ncube described game rangers as heroes and heroines who must be equipped with the necessary tools in order to perform their duties.
‘Game rangers often risk their personal lives in the service of the nation and they will only perform their duties more effectively knowing that they have our support.
‘We have agreed that game rangers should be equipped with much-needed equipment such as bullet-proof vests, binoculars and torches.
‘In addition, as the department we have committed ourselves to ensure that we provide game rangers with sleeping bags, mosquito nets, repellents and hat nets,’ Dube-Ncube said.
She further called on potential investors to partner with local communities to establish more eco-tourism products and conservation services.
‘The plan is to use the portion of the revenue generated through conservation services to implement viable projects based on the needs of local communities.
‘The long-term plan is to ensure that communities become owners of such products and services.
‘This is the surest way of ensuring that they enjoy the fruits of this democracy,’ she sai
