Parliament, Wednesday, 12 August 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment received a briefing yesterday from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and the North West Provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, on the implementation of the National Elephant Heritage Strategy.
The committee was also briefed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) on infrastructure matters at Kirstenbosch Gardens. The Provincial Elephant Task Team (PETT) presented its final report to the committee on the complex challenge of managing elephant populations in Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park.
The committee heard that both reserves are vital for conservation, tourism, community development and heritage preservation in the North West Province. However, recent years have seen escalating ecological pressures, particularly due to climate variability and drought, which have intensified the impacts of growing elephant populations on these protected areas.
The PETT’s mandate was to review existing management information, analyse population trends, assess the effectiveness of current interventions and formulate context-specific recommendations. The team’s work was grounded in extensive data analysis, site visits and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that the recommendations are both evidence-based and inclusive.
A key paradigm shift advocated by PETT is the move from managing elephant numbers to managing their ecological impacts. The report emphasises that the effects of elephants on biodiversity, tourism and community interests are driven more by their behaviour and location than by population size. This approach calls for spatially explicit management, focusing on areas of ecological concern and aligning interventions with park objectives.
For Madikwe, where ecological change is already evident, urgent action is recommended. The strategy includes targeted removals, contraception, habitat restoration and water management, aiming to reduce foliage use by 10% over five years. In Pilanesberg, where the ecosystem remains dynamic, proactive contraception and limited removals are proposed to maintain current foliage use levels. Both reserves will implement robust monitoring systems, including annual population counts, dung surveys, and biodiversity assessments, to track progress and adapt strategies as needed.
The PETT also highlights the importance of cross-cutting actions: protecting tourism quality, supporting community SMMEs, safeguarding cultural sites, and strengthening governance through oversight committees and stakeholder forums. Opportunities arising from effective elephant management include enhanced visitor experiences, job creation, heritage preservation and improved ecosystem resilience.
By prioritising ecological impacts, stakeholder participation and transparent governance, Madikwe and Pilanesberg can balance conservation, tourism and community benefits, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these iconic reserves.
Thereafter, the committee heard that South Africa’s network of national botanical and zoological gardens, managed by SANBI, faces significant infrastructure challenges that threaten their ability to fulfil critical roles in conservation, research, education and tourism. These gardens, including the renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, are not only urban centres for biodiversity and social cohesion but also vital contributors to local economies and job creation. However, the infrastructure supporting these functions is under severe strain due to historical underinvestment, aging facilities and escalating demands.
A primary challenge is the substantial gap between available funding and actual infrastructure needs. For example, while the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) allocated R180 million in 2024/25, the projected infrastructure requirement for 2027/28 alone is R741 million, with the backlog expected to reach R839 million by 2029/30. This shortfall hampers the maintenance and upgrading of essential assets such as water systems, security, electricity, roads and visitor amenities. Many gardens were established over a century ago, and their aging infrastructure requires urgent restoration to meet modern standards for safety, accessibility and sustainability.
Operational challenges compound these financial constraints. SANBI must prioritise income-generating infrastructure, conservation facilities and compliance with legal and safety regulations. The need to balance commercial activities (such as events, restaurants, and plant sales) with conservation and educational mandates adds complexity to infrastructure planning.
Furthermore, the expansion of green energy and water conservation initiatives, while essential for sustainability, requires significant upfront investment that is difficult to secure given current budget limitations.
Staffing and capacity are also affected. Critical vacancies, especially in horticultural and technical roles, limit the ability to maintain and develop infrastructure efficiently. While volunteer support and public-private partnerships provide some relief, they cannot substitute for sustained, strategic investment.
Despite these challenges, SANBI has achieved notable successes, such as the completion of the Boomslang walkway and upgrades to research and visitor facilities. Ongoing and proposed projects, including solar PV installations, irrigation upgrades, and enhanced security, demonstrate a clear vision for the future. However, without increased and sustained funding, the risk of infrastructure deterioration threatens the gardens’ ability to serve as world-class centres for biodiversity, tourism, and community engagement.
The infrastructure challenges of South Africa’s national botanical gardens require urgent, coordinated action from government, donors and stakeholders to secure the financial and operational resources necessary for long-term sustainability, said the committee Chairperson, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, MS NQABISA GANTSHO.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson of the committee please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Sureshinee Govender (Ms)
Cell: 081 704 1109
E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
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