The once-proud flagship of conservation in Africa, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) is crumbling and may be bankrupt within two years.
This was the clear message during a recent presentation of the entity’s 2021/22 budget to members of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Conservation and Environmental Affairs portfolio committee. The budget – which can only be described as unsustainable and ill-conceived – comes as Ezemvelo is completely reliant on a provincial grant from the KZN government.
The stark reality is that EKZNW has now reached the end of its downward financial sustainability spiral. Of particular concern is the entity’s continued obstinacy when it comes to budgeting sufficiently for maintenance and repairs, with only 0.5% of the budget going to repairing dysfunctional and dilapidated parks. This has set it on a vicious downhill course, as visitors shun bad Ezemvelo accommodation facilities, further depressing the entity’s budget.
Compounding the situation and the ability of Ezemvelo to fulfil its core function – which is to protect our wildlife heritage – is that there is still no clear plan to realise the long-outstanding commercialisation strategy. Further issues include;
• R44 million budgeted for park road repairs. Currently, this is only enough for one park due to an old road survey being used to determine repairs
• No clear plan on where R100 million for fencing of parks will come from
• Little to no budget for Machinery and Equipment during the next two financial years. This translates to no equipment essential to conservation being replaced when needed – seriously hampering the general functioning of the entity on a daily basis
• A freeze on the filling of critical posts, again leaving Ezemvelo short of the most essential staff to protect our natural heritage and;
• A R4 million decrease over the next three financial years for Conservation services.
The DA has taken a strong stance when it comes to the ongoing dysfunctional management of Ezemvelo. We can in good conscience not continue supporting budgets that undermine the financial sustainability of the entity.
It is high time that Ezemvelo and KZN’s provincial government make a final decision regarding commercialisation. Should the park accommodation facilities not be taken over by the private sector soon, there is a strong possibility that they will soon be forced to close their doors due to total collapse.
