Alarming new information received by the Democratic Alliance (DA) points to an almost complete breakdown in relations between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) and local communities – directly leading to the recent culling of at least three elephants.
Death threats to Ezemvelo staff attempting to repair the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HIP) fence have also been reported, with some community members allegedly actively pursuing an anti-Ezemvelo crusade.
The recent culling of at least three elephant comes after the controversial fence was again breached by the herd – an issue which has become an almost daily occurrence.
Whereas management failures are certainly to blame for the poor fencing, sources have also indicated to the DA that certain members of local communities are deliberately cutting the fence. This in an attempt to both lure animals out of the park to be poached and to gain fence repair work opportunities.
HIP is in essence now in dire straits. Direct economic development opportunities and real empowerment for surrounding communities must no longer be paid lip service while EKZW continues to award lucrative contracts to its cronies. The alternative is that local communities will continue to damage the fences and then threaten to kill the maintenance teams sent to repair it.
The DA in KZN has, since 2019, been calling for a moratorium on the culling of escaped animals – particularly the Big 5 species. This has been coupled with more and more sources coming forward to report on alleged corruption within EKZNW, particularly on the issue of fencing contracts.
Calls by the DA for a thorough on-site inspection by KZN’s Conservation and Environmental Affairs Committee have, to date, fallen on deaf ears. Meanwhile lion, elephant and even buffalo that escape the porous fence are being shot.
Added to this quagmire of unease are the ongoing financial claims for compensation from some community members, for livestock that have allegedly been eaten by lion. Ezemvelo is also clearly seen as a soft target by unscrupulous criminals who cut fencing and then directly benefit from the sale of meat after Ezemvelo cull the tuskers.
If EKZNW is to survive the silent war being waged within HIP, then intervention is required at the highest levels in order to stabilise matters. The DA has every intention of taking the fight to the KZN Legislature to empower our natural heritage which cannot speak for itself.