KZN game reserve will benefit local community: Deputy Minister
Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister, Barbara Thomson is hopeful the newly-launched Mayibuye Game Reserve in Camperdown, near Pietermaritzburg will uplift the impoverished community there.
Thomson was on hand to officially launch the new game reserve yesterday.
The more than 4000 hectare facility's been taking shape over the years -
it's already home to number of wildlife, including wildebeest and
zebra.
However, the event was marred by disruptions when some angry community members complained that they have not benefited from the project, nor were they consulted about the new developments.
Thomson's promised to sit down with the concerned residents. She believes the reserve is exactly what the community needs.
"I was informed that spin-offs are good and they range from R2-million a month. It is a good thing for the community. I do not like to mention figures too much because sometimes when people hear figures, they think a raw R2-million is going to go to a particular person.
"Of course, the project is for the whole community and the partners alongside them," she said.
Some 76 jobs have already been created, with 15 field rangers trained and employed.
The local community, the Ximba people, were awarded a land restitution claim in terms of a settlement agreement in 2007.
The beneficiary community will have a 51 percent shareholding in the company that is rolling out the development.