SA National Parks (SANParks) & iSimangaliso Wetland Park on their performance and plans, with Minister present
The Committee, with the presence of the Minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) met with two entities, SA National Parks (SANParks) and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park for Members to develop a broad overview of the entities in terms of achievements and future intentions. SANParks presented the background and history of national parks, the constitutional and legislative mandate of the entity and the high level structure and leadership. The presentation also looked at human resources equity, then national parks system, management and tourism infrastructure and beneficiation of the wildlife economy. Members were informed of strategic partnerships with the public and private sector and organisational challenges.
Members then engaged on the progress made in addressing the salary disparities of rangers in the Kruger National Park, SANParks role in hosting international conferences, its role in protecting and securing borders, temporal posts, filling of vacancies and the kinds of professions SANParks attracted.
The Committee then heard from iSimangaliso who looked at the listing of the entity, its establishment, legislative framework and unique ecological and biological processes with superlative phenomena and diversity. The presentation informed the Committee of plans to empower historically disadvantaged adjacent communities, promotion and facilitation of tourism and related development, heritage values and strategic issues.
Members were briefed by the Department on a dashboard report of its performance for 2014/15. The report looked at all programmes of the Department, namely, administration, legal, authorisations, compliance and enforcement, environmental programmes, waste and chemical management, air quality and climate change, oceans and coasts and biodiversity and conservation. The presentation highlighted which targets and indicators it was having challenges in meeting and the progress then made in each programme.
Follow the link below to read the summary and the minutes of this meeting and to download all supporting documents:
