Parliament, Thursday, 7 May 2020 – The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has noted the efforts made by the South African National Parks (SANParks) and iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority to provide food parcels to deserving communities surrounding the national parks, and the World Heritage Site as a gesture of goodwill to mitigate some of the challenges that have been brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
National parks and the iSimangaliso have always ensured that the surrounding communities benefit from their presence through various programmes.
The committee also commends the commitment made by SANParks to avoid job losses and to provide personal protective equipment for its employees as a result of the current situation, and understands that the entity is waiting for direction from the National Treasury on the revision of its annual performance plans and the budget. Another encouraging step which the committee has noted, is the improved relationship between iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the traditional authorities, and with the KwaZulu-Natal Ezemvleo Wildlife.
The committee supports the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s post Covid-19 Recovery Plan, and is pleased with the interventions that the entity is pursuing on many fronts especially in respect to its human capital at this challenging time.
However, the committee remains concerned with the allegations of irregular appointments of some of the officials at the South African Weather Services (SAWS). The committee has requested SAWS to submit, formally, a detailed report on how it has dealt with these allegations, on a date that will be determined by the committee, to satisfy itself with the contents of another dossier about SAWS which is at its disposal.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES, MR FIKILE XASA
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Faith Ndenze (Ms)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: (021) 403 8062
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour