Inkanyesi English July Sept 11

July - september 2011

official newsletter ezemvelo KZn Wildlife

think out the Box

giving Back to the community

Laduma

fLying high to save the rhino K

Zn Wildlife’s very own sharon ilett is at the forefront of raising funds for rhinos in a most unique way – by sky jumping, and must be applauded for her courageous effort in the fight against rhino poaching.

Earlier this year Sharon skydived for rhinos along with rhino experts, Jabugoing lani Ngubane and Paul back to Cryer, Andrew Zalouour roots mis, CEO of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, 20 staff members from African Conservation Trust, and concerned members of the public.

“My allegiance to rhino poaching required me to jump out of a plane to create awareness and raise funds that will go towards rhino protection.

The main reason for taking a EKZN branded Jacket! part was that my son who See page 11 passed away

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had a passion for rhinos which started when he was five years old at Queen Elizabeth Park. We had two baby rhinos and used to clean and feed them under the watchful eye of a keeper until they left the park,” said Sharon.

In 10 weeks, 40 volunteers raised more than R180 000, and this would not have been possible without the support of rhino conservation experts and African Conservation Trust who are the custodians of the “Save the Rhinos & Skydive Campaign.”

Sharon also got the hospitality industry, FEDHASA, on board this initiative, who donated R5 000 to the African Conservation Trust at a function held at Coastlands on the Ridge, Umhlanga Rocks.

The money will be used to purchase anti-poaching patrol equipment, and aerial surveillance-emergency helicopter support.

For Sharon this project is very dear to her heart

and will be ongoing. Sadly however, poaching continues…and the campaign to stop rhino is far from over for Ezemvelo’s Sharon Ilett.

Note: Sharon has spoken about a possible national “Skydive for Rhinos” in 2012 taking place in various provinces, as well as overseas. At the moment, the African Conservation Trust is busy creating a new provincial initiative called Project Rhino KZN, and is trying to rope in public, private and NGO rhino stakeholders to create awareness and help raise funds to stop the carnage of this heinous crime.

thinK out the BoX!

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t has been some six months since our last magazine and much has happened in this period – and a lot of this, i’m happy to say, it is positive.

PosiTiVEs Let me deal with these positives, even if, in this first instance, we are recipients of favours because we have sometimes been guilty of our own mismanagement.

Before I begin, I would like you all to pay more attention to our Ezemvelo website. This foreword is an encapsulation of broad messages I wish to emphasise. But you should know that many of this year’s events and happenings are captured in our website. I would like more people to know about these happenings as it is important you all get a thorough understanding of what we are

I would like you all to please reflect on the principle of giving for no return.

GiVE For noTHinG in rETUrn

doing and what we have achieved.

You will recall in the last Inkanyezi edition I spoke of my continuing admiration for our honourary officers and the wonderful role they perform in so many aspects pertaining to our protected areas. In one sense I gratefully acknowledge this; in another I reflect that this assistance is partly a result of our own inability to do the things we are supposed to.

Yes, it embarrasses me that it is our honourary officers that help fill pot holes in our roads and keep water pumps going when they break down, for example.

Nevertheless, such has been this organisation’s unselfish and loyal devotion to a greater cause that I held a commemorative lunchtime event for them where I gave out certain awards. It was a wonderful occasion where I addressed the gathering and expressed Ezemvelo’s real appreciation for their work. I confessed to them it was long overdue! Of course, my appreciation for them was not just confined to stepping in where we should have trodden ourselves but also acknowledging their greater contribution to our Stewardship programme, for example.

As I said conservation measures are too big for us alone to implement. All stakeholders, like our honourary officers, play a vital role in all fields of this discipline.

I would like you all to please reflect on the principle of giving for no return. Sometimes we have to perform knowing that there is no financial incentive. I look, for example, at one of our very few active black honourary officers Muzi Mshengu up in the Escourt region. His commitment is an outstanding lesson in giving up valuable weekend time to help explain to our communities the benefit of creating proper firebreaks, of when to burn and the consequences of burning grassland too much. He frequently attends education camps as well.

Of course, there are also the recently publicised efforts of our honourary officers at Mpushini and the outstanding work they are doing within our Stewardship programme in this region. In addition, I read of honourary officers that give of their time to patrolling sensitive areas and frequently intercepting illegal dog hunting parties.

All at their own expense 2

and time.

All in all I salute these people, not just for what they do but the passion and commitment they show in doing it. I expressed a wish at this function that we should hold this event on an annual basis.

WElCoME Please on behalf of all of us let me welcome Greg Martindale as the new head of our Stewardship unit. He has excellent credentials and I wish him the very best in this critical function.

FUnCTions ‘Ezemvelo’ held another function this year, this time in the context of encouraging stakeholders to join us in our overall conservation endeavours.

We titled this function “Meeting of Great Minds” as invitations were largely directed at former Natal Parks Board and former KwaZulu Department of Nature Conservation staff.

I need not go into the details that motivated this gathering. It is enough for me to say that the amalgamation of these organisations into our presently constituted Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was an unhappy one, one that I personally would have had serious reservations about

its ultimate outcome had I been CEO at the time. This function had at its heart a sense of acknowledgement of the skills of these former staff, their huge contribution to conservation in KZN but most importantly a message that out of this respect we would like them to engage with us in going forward.

Dear colleagues, yes, the past is the past but I do not harbour grudges and I will not be tied down by rumour and perception. I believe in the goodness of people, first and foremost and whatever happened then will not affect my belief that conservationists, employed with us or not, are people of goodwill and imbued with a spirit of caring and passion.

We would all do well to adopt this approach and embrace such people’s willingness to guide us in the years ahead. After all, many of these stakeholders are people of vast experience and knowledge.

And now to something that is close to my heart.

Let me turn your attention to our ‘Eco-System Services’ function which was held at the Elangeni Hotel at the beginning of November. The vast majority of you would not have been there and I dare say that many of you will not be acquainted with what this study is about. This is why I bring it up. I need you all to understand the broad message of this research. It goes to the core of one of the main pillars of why we exist.

The function gave a brief insight into our natural environment, how our greater society is degrading our land and transforming it so rapidly that

we are effectively destroying those very things that we need in our daily lives.

I speak here of how the mismanagement and abuse of our land is slowly starving us of things we get for free; things like fresh water, clean air, fuel and firewood, food, traditional medicines etc. It was no surprise that the keynote speaker at this function Justice Mchunu spoke about how serious the issue of food security is in KZN as well as South Africa as a whole.

And the more these systems are damaged - things like wetlands and soils and indigenous forests - the more it adversely affects the wild animals and the fauna flora that rely on them.

And not only that. Disregarding our environment has and will continue to have a costly impact on us as taxpayers. Simply

jor launch of this Eco-Systems Services programme in the first half of next year. At this stage anyway, I want to congratulate our scientific division on their exceptionally hard work and the gradual role-out of this programme. They must all be aware that their skills and research are critical for our future well-being.

Let me also pick up on another theme I mentioned in June this year.

I spoke then of the ability of Ezemvelo to attract private enterprise towards supporting things we as an organisation cannot afford to achieve. I am delighted to announce that I am right in the middle of cementing a helicopter service that is prepared to help us in combatting rhino poaching in our reserves. At present they are based at our HluhluweiMfolozi protected area, completing trial runs and smoothing the logistics associated with this. This is excellent news and again demonstrates that with the right attitude and sense of commitment to our duties, others will follow and willingly lend a helping hand.

speaking we are going to have to pay more and more to replace these services. I talk here of having to build more dams because the existing ones are silting up and their water is being used up by alien plants, for example. And the more we destroy our good soils, the more we experience erosion and washaways and the consequences this has on our lives.

I am hoping to hold a ma-

Final Words Finally – and unfortunately - this last point this leads me into negative territory!

Many of you will know that we have lost an unacceptably large number of rhino at our Ndumo protected area this year. Yes, we are up against great and sophisticated odds in this battle. I also know very well that we have wonderful and really passionate 3

APU’s and Field Rangers who will do everything in their power to win this war.

But there is a bitter pill that we have had to suffer in Ndumo. The truth is that we suffered these rhino casualties largely because we lost focus on our administrative responsibilities in this reserve. This is simply inexcusable and we must take responsibility for this.

This must never happen again. It is our fundamental duty to ensure that management is operating efficiently and dutifully. It is a sad day that we have had to suspend one of our managers there. It is equally sad that the negligence that accompanied this suspension also lies with those that should have ensured it was detected and arrested far earlier.

The same negligence applied to our Opathe protected area. Here again we lost something like 30 rhino over the past two or so years. I ask all those who consider themselves responsible for this dreadful outcome to look closely at themselves. Why was this allowed to happen?

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife comprises many outstanding and committed people. Negligence and an abrogation of duty doesn’t just reflect badly on our organisational image but – and I need to remind you all of this - it also all undermines your colleagues, our broader family. So many of our staff demonstrate huge goodwill and passion in their work and yet in one or two foul swoops you have hurt their dignity and the very pride they carry with them in all they do. Think about this!

cLimate change is reaL!

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t’s up to us to do something about saving our planet, and that’s exactly what ezemvelo KZn Wildlife are doing In the build up to COP17, which is happening in Durban from 28 November to 9 December, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has announced ambitious environmental initiatives which are bound to change the face of management throughout KwaZulu-Natal.

Ezemvelo’s Dr Bandile Mkhize said they have launched a green initiative to convert the organisation to a green economy – starting at its Head Office and running throughout its properties within the Province.

At the forefront of the initiative is Ezemvelo’s Ecological Advice Co-ordinator, Caiphus Khumalo.

“Environmental education, call it what you may but people have to be made aware of the huge damage being caused to our natural landscape.

Our mandate is to expose the impact this is having on the quality and abun-

dance of natural resources that we depend on in our daily lives. Communities can play a very significant role in helping combat global warming, and frankly the only way to do this is to join forces where everybody is doing something about it,” said Khumalo.

The planned tour involved senior, community conservation officers, armed with banners and placards talking on the effects of global warming, approaching masses at taxi ranks, towns and schools, distributing pamphlets on climate change. People were also given a fiveminute talk about climate change and the upcoming COP17 event.

At Ladysmith a meeting was held at a community hall where questions were asked by community members to the local municipality delegates, on issues around climate change.

aWaReness toUR Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife recently embarked on a fourday tour around KwaZuluNatal which involved the Cop17 task team visiting several destinations such as Escourt, Ladysmith, Dundee and Vryheid, continuing to towns such as Louwsburg, Ulundi, eMpangeni and Mthunzini, and finally ending at Umlalazi, where the team visited the Kwa-Mashu and eThekwini taxi ranks and the Mlazi-Mega City Mall.

The purpose of the tours was to create awareness of climate change to citizens of the Province. By moving from town to town, significant numbers of people were reached and educated about the impact of climate change.

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After the meeting, a scheduled march moved around the city equipped with pamphlets, vuvuzelas, whistles and banners.

At the end of the march the Mayor of Ladysmith thanked all those who had participated, and Ezemvelo’s very own Scientist and co-ordinator of the tour, Caiphus Khumalo, further highlighted the importance in conserving our nature and how community members can make a small change in reducing climate change.

On the second day of the tour in Nongoma loud hailers and vuvuzelas were used to grab the attention

of local citizens, and at Ulundi another march was undertaken followed by speeches. The mayor of Ondini, Joana Manana, did a small presentation, highlighting that the municipality wants to play a role in educating the public and creating awareness on issues that contributed to climate change.

Ezemvelo’s Caiphus Khumalo again talked about the upcoming conference to be held in Durban, and made the public aware of factors that contributed to climate change such as the cutting down of trees, pollution, as well as how each person can make a difference in reducing climate change.

To make the event more fun, a play about climate change was presented to the crowd and prizes in a form of T-shirts were given away.

Empangeni and finally Mlalazi were visited before the bus headed to Durban where similar campaigns were done on climate change. Again a march was done around the city where Ezemvelo staff carried banners and sang about nature conservation and climate change. On the last day of the tour the bus proceeded to the final destination in Pietermaritzburg and Midmar where information was disseminated to densely populated areas of the town, ending the tour on a high note.

What is climate change?

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be a result of earth’s natural processes or as a result of human activities.

Launch of Biodiversity Programme, a huge success!

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zemvelo KZN Wildlife launched a new biodiversity programme at the Elangeni Southern Sun Hotel at the end of October to make people in the Province more aware of the roles and values of natural areas around us.

The eco-systems goods and services programme aimed to demonstrate the value of biodiversity in supporting delivery of essential services to the people of KwaZulu-Natal, and to ensure the safe-guarding of the natural processes and eco-systems that deliver these services.

The presentation included talks by Myles Mander of EcoFutures, Dr Bandile Mkhize of Ezemvelo, and Professor Omie Singh from the Environmental Portfolio Committee. Dr Bandile Mkhize is confident that the biodiversity programme will make a valuable contribution to the up-andcoming deliberations that will be held in our Province at COP17 about how to prevent further environmental degradation.

Ezemvelo’s CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize, said: “Unless we change the way we treat the resources it provides us with, then I’m afraid we are entering a landscape we hardly know the consequences of. There is an urgent need

Who else is involved?

Traditional authorities, local municipalities, KwaZulu-Natal Museum, uMngeni Water, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Rural Development (DAEARD), South African National Biodiversity Insitute (SANBI), Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Department of health (DOH) are all on board to drive this campaign.

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to change the perception among decision makers and the public that our environment has low political and economic priority. Ezemvelo believes that the programme will highlight the need to re-imagine the role and value of our environment in society’s lifestyles and livelihoods.”

The message echoed in the presentations highlighted the fact that our living world provided us with resources that have a fundamental value, be it fresh water, air, energy (fuel) and food. We all relied on these and took them for granted – it is the natural and healthy workings of our natural world that sustains us.

Dr Mkhize also added: “Reserves have previously been set aside, developed and managed to protect and conserve nature without creating awareness of their full roles and values to society. Many natural areas which are not formally protected under law, are under severe pressure of infrastructure or agricultural development without considering the full costs of this to society as a whole.

This has contributed significantly to these areas not receiving the political and economic support they deserve, and hence to the rampant environmental degradation we see daily.

“To remedy this situation, the role that natural areas play in meeting the needs of modern society and the value thereof, must be unravelled and explained to decision makers and the general public in relevant terms, that is in terms of what natural areas and the eco-system goods and services they produce, do for people.”

He also added that Ezemvelo was a leading conservation agency and as such recognised that the next few decades would see growing attention paid to natural areas and the services provided by them to people.

All in all the pilot project of this initiative was a huge success. Various stakeholders such as WESSA hoped that the project would be ongoing to allow all stakeholders an opportunity to collectively come together and add value as to how to pave the way forward and reduce climate change.

Let the games Begin We were all part of a winning team

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unning, walking, scoring goals, shooting or even dunking – we were all part of a winning team Ezemvelo staff from all four regions turned out in full force for the much anticipated Sports Day held at UKZN’s Howard College Campus. The day started on a high note as people gathered on the sports field – mingling, dancing, chatting – with music playing in the background to get everyone in the mood.

First up were the athletics and fun walk. While participants ran and walked in their designated routes, the crowd cheered as the soccer teams took to the field.

A proud UKhahlamba Soccer Team stole the show by beating Zululand 8-7 on penalties. And there was more bad news for the Zu-

luland Region when they went down 4-3 to QEP in a highly contested netball final. QEP won the cup for one of their players, Gugu Zulu, who was injured during the game. She was rushed to hospital and is currently recovering.

In athletics, Johanes Xaba from Ukhahlamba won the race while Sphamandla Mkhwanazi took second place and Thulani Nzuza came in third.

In the ladies category, Jennifer Albus from the Coastal Region outran everyone, while Phindile Dlamini from Zululand took the second spot and Thanda Ndlovu from QEP came in third.

As the day progressed, more fun and games were introduced to the enthusiastic crowd. These included the dunking game with Dr Bandile Mkhize and Cedric Coetzee participating.

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Other sports enjoyed were drilling, shooting and tugo-war, to name but a few.

When declaring the games open, the CEO of Ezemvelo, Dr Mkhize, proposed that the Sports Day should become an annual event… but that still needs to be looked at.

To make the Sports Day even more interesting, the former Bafana Bafana coach, Clive Barker, and Joel Faya from AmaZulu were in attendance. They helped to select Ezemvelo’s final soccer team to participate in a tournament that will include Boxer Super Stores, Msinsi and KZN Sharks Board.

To make this event possible and a huge success our gratitude and thanks must go to our sponsors Old Mutual, Capitec Bank, Prosano, Sanlam, AmaZulu, ABI and Springbok Atlas, to name a few.

WorKing together F

ighting rhino poaching, discussing food security programmes and recognising honorary officers were all highlighted at this year’s annual general meeting Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife held its Annual General Meeting in November at EKZNW Headquarters where different issues such as poaching and food security programmes where discussed. The AGM ended with awards presentations to Honorary Officers for their efforts in conserving the biodiversity of the Province.

First speaker of the day, Dr Bandile Mkhize mentioned that as a country we have to work together to conserve biodiversity because it affects all of us.

He said it is imperative to walk the walk with those who have the organisations interest at heart.

“Conservation is too big for us to conserve alone.

That’s why we need other stakeholders to help,” he said. Dr Bandile stated the importance of engaging people around our protected areas to help them understand why it’s important to conserve the animals and nature we have.

Dr Mkhize spoke strongly

about the perception that the organisation is moving away from its mandate. He assured the HO’s that the aim was to engage people on biodiversity education.

Communities need to be engaged on maintaining the sustainability of resources. The organisation is rolling out the eco-systems programme which is aimed at showing the government and stakeholders its importance.

“We need to stand together and fight this war against rhino poaching at all levels, including the rhino markets. It’s not only in the hands of tourism and nature conservationist, but also in the hands of ordinary citizens. The syndicate is very sophisticated and our challenge is to be ahead of them,”

highlighted Dr Mkhize.

As a keynote speaker, Mr Justice Mchunu talked about issues of food security we are facing as a Province and as a country, and how it affects us. He said strategies and campaigns such as one home and one garden, food vouchers, etc have been formulated to assist in issues that cause food insecurity and ultimately affect the living span of the poor.

Provincial Co-ordinator, Mr Brian van der Bank, gave a short history of how Honorary Officers began and how they have expanded over the years, today numbering 796. “The HO’s aim is to align themselves with the same goals, strategies and aspirations of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Their vision and mission

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is totally integrated with Ezemvelo,” van der Bank said, adding that they have contributed a tremendous amount of time and money to assist the organisation in fulfilling its duties of conserving nature.

Eugèn Joubert, Wildlife Consultant, told the meeting that San Parks Honorary Officers have raised more than R32-million and R1.7-million had been handed to Kruger National Park to buy equipment to assist in the war against poaching.

Not only was the event successful and informative, but guests also enjoyed great conversations which gave them a chance to share experiences with each other.

traiLBLaZers! great minds

thinK aLiKe!

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langa newspaper and KZn hunting and conservation association donate equipment for imfolozi trail It was a blistering hot day at Mndindini base camp, where the iMfolozi Trail sets off. But the staff of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park were oblivious to the heat.

They were more excited about the donation they were about to receive from the management of Ilanga Newspaper.

Arthur Koningkramer, Ilanga Newspaper Managing Director, and Peter Koningkramer from KZN Hunting and Conservation Association, showed their humanitarian spirit by donating 10 backpacks, water bottles and head lamps to be used by field rangers and trailists during the iMfolozi Wilderness Trail.

Trails Manager Ncamisile Khumalo expressed her appreciation on behalf of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

She told dignitaries about Mbiya Camp which is currently under construction and will serve as a cultural village. In addition, the camp will be a base where learners can learn conservation programmes and cultural activities. Khuma-

onservation is everyone’s business… for today and the future… which is why we all work together.

It was a day to remember when former employees of the Natal Sharks Board and the Department of Nature Conservation joined forces with Ezemvelo staff at Head Office on 3 November for the muchawaited Indaba of Great Minds. Former role players such as Dr Ian Player, Dr George Hughes, Peter Thompson, Dave Cooke, and John and June Vincent took part in the event, which was a remarkable success. The formation of the first Advisory Forum was announced by Ezemvelo’s CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize, who was instrumental in making the historical meeting happen.

The reason for the event was to engage further knowledge going to the future and to take it to the next level, as well as to find common ground where we could contribute ideas and suggestions on how to make Ezemvelo a bigger and better brand and organisation.

COP17 co-ordinator, Caiphus Khumalo, gave his presentation on climate change, and emphasised that every person needed to play a role to curb climate change. Ezemvelo’s very own rhino cop, Jabulani Ngubane, also gave his presentation on matters pertaining to poaching, the newest innovations being used by Ezemvelo,

lo showed her token of appreciation by inviting the donors to go on a Primitive Trail.

Arthur Koningkramer said his personal wish was to make the reserves relevant to communities for their survival, and appreciated that Ezemvelo is also striving for the same goal.

To assist the communities he encouraged the organisation to source more funding from private organisations who could apply through the European Union (EU) or Lotto organisation, as government owned organisations cannot apply for these funds.

He offered to assist Ezemvelo in co-ordinating the sponsorship through these organisations, to ultimately help uplift the communities and plant the seed of conserving nature to young children.

Koningkramer stressed the reasons they made this donation was because they wanted to support camps like Mbiya for the benefit of young learners.

The event was also attended by a journalist from Ilanga who went on the iMfolozi Wilderness Trail.

Patrick Sibeko and Sihle Nxumalo, both Conservation Managers of HiP, were also present.

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and the successful arrests that were made during the year.

Jabulani also highlighted the fact that in terms of all provinces, KZN had the lowest statistics (29) this year with regards to curbing rhino poaching.

“Our aim at Ezemvelo is to ensure staff are adequately trained and empowered to combat the rhino poaching threat and rapidly reduce the rate of rhino poaching. However, our challenges are the high profile syndicates, staff involvement and obtaining criminal convictions. Our gratitude goes out to every individual and NGOs who have helped with our fight. I know we’ve won this war before and I know we will win it again,” said Jabulani.

Dr Mkhize then addressed the visitors, adding that he was aware of the circumstances of the departure of staff when the two organisations joined forces in ’98, and that he regretted how it had occurred.

“Our belief is that every-

body must get involved and make conservation their business, and everyone can constitute in one way or the other to conservation for current and future generations. Ezemvelo wants to be a world leader and in order to attain world leadership, we should know what will set aside us as leaders. It is for this reason that we are going to leave no stone unturned to make conservation better. All we can do is to learn from the past but we cannot let the past hold us back. We need your assistance to take Ezemvelo to the next level because all of us have a responsibility to do that. We need to walk the walk and help make the organisation the best it can be. The question of colour will be a thing of the past and I know that together we can achieve it,” re-iterated Dr Mkhize.

The general consensus from the former conservation employees were that a forum be formed to take Ezemvelo to the next level. After much deliberation, the forum consisting of seven members such as Paul Phelan, Roger Porter, Drummond Denshan, Peter Thompson, Dr George Hughes and Dave Cooke, was finalised. The forum will deal with rhino management and mentorship in the next meeting, scheduled for the end of November. The new found partnership between old and new has been welcomed by Ezemvelo, and Dr Mkhize is adamant such a partnership can only make Ezemvelo stronger, bigger and better, to tackle issues in the future with such great minds on board.

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

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t was a day of jubilation for 10 Amakhosi when Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife handed them a 10-seater Land Cruiser game viewing vehicle for Nselweni Bush Camp Tourists and visitors to the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) will be delighted to know that their collective patronage over the past two years in the form of the Community Conservation Levy has paid off. Their contributions have enabled Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to donate a 10-seater Land Cruiser game viewing vehicle to a community owned camp inside the park.

Opened in December 2009, the Nselweni Bush Camp is a community initiative project jointly run and owned by the 10 Amakhosi living around the HiP. Since it opened its doors to visitors in early 2010, the camp has generated some R1.6-million with an operating profit of

more than R500 000.

Fundisiwe Dlamini, the Ezemvelo Community Levy Co-ordinator, said the purchasing of a game viewing vehicle was the idea of the Amakhosi. In addition to the R420 000 Land Cruiser, sufficient funds were available to also replace eight fridges.

Such has been the success of the eight-unit camp that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has set aside R3,3-million to build and furnish two more units – a request from the Amakhosi so that each unit can represent each iNkosi.

Speaking on behalf of the Amakhosi, Inkosi Bonga Mdletshe of Emdletsheni Traditional Authority said the Nselweni lodge’s success was a ‘dream come true’ “Wonderful! We never expected the lodge to bring in this amount of revenue in such a short space of time. In fact, we have earned R800 000 more 9

than we projected for this time period.”

Mdletshe took the opportunity to challenge other Amakhosi to help fight the upsurge of rhino poaching. He also wished that all the units carry the history of each iNkosi and its tradition – the idea being to educate the tourist about the traditional values of each tribal community.

Welile Mtshali, Mpila Hospitality Manager, added that the lodge was fully booked until November 2011.

“Nselweni Bush Camp is Ezemvelo’s flagship. This community project has done very well in the tourism sector,”said Dr Bandile Mkhize. “I will be meeting a company who has shown interest in building a ‘Peace Monument’ at Nselweni Bush Camp. The monument will serve as a remembrance to staff that died in the line of duty

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u d a L T ’ N O D

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zemvelo kicks off tourno launch at hilltop It was laduma time when Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife eagerly kicked off their annual Ezemvelo Cup Tournament at its awardwinning resort at Hilltop Camp in Hluhluwe.

The Ezemvelo Cup Tournament is a Corporate Social Investment Project of EKZNW aimed at enriching and empowering currently disadvantaged soccer and netball clubs from communities surrounding Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

The aim of such a tourno is to: • Motivate communities into directing their energy and power into constructive and patriotic actions; • Expose soccer/netball as a career choice and vehicle to success; • Raise environmental awareness on Ezemvelo’s current activities; and • Improve working relationships with communities.

Dr Bandile Mkhize added: “We are creating awareness of the sport and also playing for the reduction of climate change. Our responsibility to reducing climate change is crucial for the sake of our children.”

This programme involves a soccer and netball tournament for community members from the 10 Tra-

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T I S MIS

ditional Council areas bordering Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. They are: • Obuka Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Biyela; • Somopho Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Mthembu; • Mhlana Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Mthethwa; • Mpukunyoni Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Mkhwanazi; • Mpembeni Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi DJ Hlabisa; • Matshemnyama Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi M Hlabisa; • Mandlakazi Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Zulu; • Zungu Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Zungu; • Ximba Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Mlaba; and • Mdletsheni Traditional Council under the leadership of Inkosi Mdletshe.

The annual Ezemvelo Cup Tournament – which started three years ago – is sponsored by bigwigs such as AmaZulu FC, Nedbank, Boxer Super Stores, Total SA, Ukhozi FM, Katanga Parking Services and an op10

tometrist from Durban.

There will be a total of 24 games in this tournament including the semifinals and final match. The teams participating are: • • • • • • • • • •

Mandlakazi Cheetahs; Matshamnyama Rhinos; Mdletsheni Duickers; Mhlana Zebras; Mlaba Giraffes; Mpembeni Buffalos; Mpukunyoni Bushbucks; Obuka Leopards; Somopho Lions; and Zungu Elephants.

All soccer matches will be officiated by accredited match officials to be provided by SAFA and each match will be officially observed by a SAFA match commissioner to detect any irregularities.

The soccer teams will be competing for the first prize of R15 000. Second position wins R8000, third position wins R4000 and fourth position wins R2000.

In netball, the winning team walks away with R8000, second team wins R6000, third team gets R3000 and the fourth team R1000.

Matches kicked off on October 29, and the final play-offs will happen on December 16 at Msani.

The finals will be held on December 16, 2011 at KwaMsane Stadium in Mtubatuba. Don’t miss it!

IN W ed

d ran b ZN ! a EK Jacket

1. Which venue was the Ezemvelo Sports Day held?

2. What is climate change?

3. Who is raising funds for rhinos in a unique way?

4. Who sponsored the iMfolozi Trail equipment?

5. Which bush camp received a brand new land cruiser? intercom@kznwildlife.com

The winner of the last competition is : Mvelo Msweli.

11

GOING BACK TO OUR ROOTS The Roots crew will be back

E

zemvelo KZN Wildlife were recently given the privilege of showing off two of their world-renowned resorts Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife happily hosted the crew of the popular cultural music programme, Roots, shown on SABC1 on Sundays at 6.30pm.

Gracing our Didima and Hilltop Resorts, the TV crew – consisting of director Tez Mothibe, makeup artist Mabongi Mkhize, production assistant, Mandisa Nkongani and presenter Tebogo Mahlaela – opted to shoot three episodes at our renowned resorts during Heritage month.

Flying in from Johannes-

burg courtesy of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the TV team were guests of the Ezemvelo team – Vumani Phoswa, Communications Manager Musa Mntambo, and Media Manager Waheeda Peters. Also forming part of the entourage were Lloyd Monyakane from SABC, Gospel singer Mthetheleli Mbonani, and trainee presenter Unathi Cetywayo.

The first destination was the captivating Didima Resort, situated in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Heritage Site – South Africa’s first cultural and environmental World Heritage Site.

The crew reached the camp at 1am in the morn12

ing, and after several hours of much deserved sleep, the entire team met up at breakfast to discuss the day’s programme. On the agenda was shooting two of the episodes at the scenic Didima Resort, including the Rock Art Centre, which set the backdrop for the shoot.

By 2pm on Saturday the shoot was wrapped up and we headed to the awardwinning Hilltop Resort at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

Arriving at around 3am, the crew rested, but by 10am was in full swing shooting the final episode.

The crew was mesmerised by the spectacular views on the summit and re-iterated that they’ll be

back to visit the resorts. By mid-afternoon the entourage was back on the road heading to King Shaka International Airport for flights home.

To our delight we were given a chance to view some spectacular game such as zebra, white rhino and a bald eagle merrily drinking water at one of the ponds. The crew was in such awe of the white rhino and definitely enjoyed being out in the open, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The Roots crew will be back towards the end of the year to shoot two more episodes.