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Incorporation of Qwaqwa National Park with the Golden Gate Highlands National
Park
15 March 2004
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mohammed Valli Moosa, will on Thursday, 18 March 2004, sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the MEC of the Free State, Mr Sakhiwo Belot, for the incorporation of the QwaQwa National Park with the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
Minister Moosa and MEC Belot, will both sign the MOU deproclaiming the QwaQwa National Park so that it can be transferred to the newly appointed management authority (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) for national park purposes at the Basotho Cultural Village in Eastern Free State. The newly established Golden Gate Highlands National Park will be managed by the South African National Parks (SANParks).
The significance of this consolidation is that it will:
1. Ensure the protection of two grassland components that are critically important in terms of South Africa's national biodiversity protection commitments.
2. Co-operation between national and provincial government in this project will help achieve the biodiversity conservation objectives and the socio economic development in the region.
3. The anticipated increase in tourism in the eastern Free Sate Highlands will contribute to economic growth of the region and the country.
4. It also presents an opportunity to expand the park along the lines of the Transfrontier Conservation Areas programme.
There are however certain issues that need to be resolved with communities residing in the area of the park and SANParks will work together with communities to resolve issues of resettlement and empowerment and other operational issues connected therewith.
At the same event, the District Mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana will officially hand over certain assets and facilities of the park to the communities of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. These include educational facilities like a library and a creche, community hall and a clinic.
All media is invited to attend this important event.
For further enquiries please contact: Mava B Scott
Tel: (012) 310 3849
Fax: (012) 320 1243
Cell: 082 411 9821
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
15 March 2004