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His Majesty the King
The Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism
The Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal
The MEC for Economic Development and Tourism
Members of the Provincial Legislatures present
Members of the business community locally and abroad
Ladies and gentlemen,

Today will indeed stand out as a turning point in the economic history of our country. As we release elephants on the shores of this beautiful lake, we are reminded of government's commitment to the alleviation of poverty through conservation and tourism. We know this is the best way to create jobs, growth and prosperity while at the same time conserving the invaluable natural assets of our land.

When we launched the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative in 1998, very few people believed that what we intended for this region would be achieved, but we have worked hard, and have scored a number of achievements. We are indeed extremely proud to be turning the St Lucia Wetland Park into an internationally competitive tourism zone.

The reintroduction of elephants into the Park is symbolic of our commitment to deliver. This strategic investment programme will ensure that tourism facilities exist in an environment that has the potential to offer tourists a real and unique experience.

From today the Park will be the only place on earth that travellers can watch the biggest land mammals (the elephant) and the biggest and oldest marine mammal (the whale) within five minutes of each other. This is a winning formula where natural beauty is a force for economic growth and the elimination of poverty.

Today, we are incredibly proud of our ability to reunite the ancient herd of elephants that once wandered freely through this area. Our current ability to focus on the finer details of this unique tourism destination has been made possible through the huge amount of work conducted through the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative.

Together with provincial and national agencies the Lubombo Spatial Development Initiative is implementing a programme that will remove the major factors that constrain the emergence of this region as a world-class tourism destination.

In the first place, we are dealing with the legacy of our past. Many thousands of people were removed in the apartheid years from these dunes and other places in the St Lucia Wetland Park. We have worked hard to ensure that economic growth comes with a fair settlement of these forced removals.

Land issues are also being dealt with in an orderly and responsible way. Land claims on over 60% of this two hundred and eighty thousand hectare World Heritage Site have been settled and settlement of outstanding claims prioritised. People have reclaimed title to their land.

They now are able to use their ownership of the land and its resources to enter into the mainstream of the tourism economy. This is being achieved at the same time as preserving the economic order, the natural beauty and world heritage status of the area. Conservation, tourism development and management by the relevant authorities is not compromised but enhanced.

We have set up a Wetlands Authority to manage the St Lucia Wetland Park in line with the very strict standards that are required of a World Heritage Site. This Wetlands authority is designed to represent all of the main stakeholders in the park. It is strong, efficient, and viable. It removes bureaucracy and red tape. The Wetlands authority coordinates the many levels of government involved in this programme, and is responsible for formulating and implementing an integrated management and development plan that follows international best practice for heritage sites. It works closely with KwaZulu Natal Wildlife, which is responsible for making sure that the wildlife and natural assets of this park are preserved. In addition, it provides a stable and efficient platform for investment.

The acute shortage of basic infrastructure in the region, one of the biggest backlogs in the province - has been a serious barrier to the expansion of the region's tourism economy. In response to that problem, we are tarring and improving almost six hundred kilometres of roads. This includes the upgrading of the N2 between Richards Bay and Swaziland that is nearly complete. As a result the gateway to this wonderland is just over two hours from Durban by road.

Then there's the construction of an entirely new Maputo to Hluhluwe spine road that puts Durban and Maputo less than six hours apart by car. On the South African side, this road is in its final stages of construction. Another big boost will be the opening of the new Durban International airport with a four million-passenger volume per year, in 2006.

Government is also delivering the other macro infrastructure needed to open the area to investment, economic activity and tourism, for example the introduction of extensive connector services such as secondary roads, electricity, water piping, and game fencing. Ninety kilometers of elephant fence had to be completed for today's reintroduction.

The roads, game fences and water supply lines we are building have created jobs for local people with over 50% of the value of these contracts have gone to Small and Micro Enterprises. It is expected that these SMME's will assist to maintain this infrastructure and the building of new tourism facilities.

We are determined to move ahead with development, and will not let anything stand in our way. For example, malaria is considered a major problem for tourism, and we are responding to that challenge. We have introduced a major malaria eradication programme, which extends deep into Swaziland and Mozambique. Not only do these programmes improve the economic prospects of the area, but also, they dramatically improve the quality of life for its residents. Already, the malaria rate has dropped by 60 % in these areas.

The development of Greater St Lucia Wetland Park can add more than seven thousand-tourist beds to the region over the first ten years. By the tenth year, it will generate eight hundred and fifty million rand annually in foreign exchange earnings and boost gross geographic product by almost four billion rand. It will create approximately three thousand four hundred direct new permanent jobs. Simply put this is nine times the current annual tourism revenue and jobs created in this park today.

We cannot achieve this vision alone as government. We need to work with the private sector and the ordinary men and women who live in this area. We are attracting huge interest from overseas and local investors, and are proud and excited that many such investors have come to be with us today. They are the force that can help us solve the central challenging contradiction of the area, which is the co-existence of beauty and poverty. Through using the natural assets of this place, investors can help us to bring reconstruction and development to the people of this region.

The presence of elephants on these shores today is a sure sign that our pledge is not hollow. We have a proud track record of delivery in the region. Our commitment is here for all to see. The izindlovu are said to be the wise ones of the animal kingdom. I am sure that if they could speak, they would tell you that we are serious about realising our vision of a better future for Maputaland, and the economic upliftment of our people.

I thank you.

Issued by The Presidency

10 August 2001