Port St Johns to Coffee Bay is one of six areas prioritised for development in a mammoth government plan to boost coastal and tourism and create jobs.
The scheme to create “world class sustainable development” aims to create 116000 direct jobs and contribute R21.4-billion to the economy by 2026. Approved by cabinet, it was announced by Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa yesterday.
It coincides with the release of a hard-hitting report by the provincial portfolio committee on economic development, environmental affairs and tourism showing a chronic collapse of nature reserve tourist facilities across the Eastern Cape.
In an inspection of eight reserves across the eastern and western regions led by ANC committee chair Tony Duba, gross neglect, inaccessible roads, understaffing, escalating poaching, illegal sand-mining, roaming dog packs and problems of invasive alien vegetation were found.
Duba said the reserves were economically vital entities, especially in the eastern region of the province. “There have been some improvements in management following the previous concerns we raised, but there are still challenges and we will not accept dilapidated infrastructure which is paid for by taxpayers.”
UDM president Bantu Holomisa said the appalling state of Eastern Cape roads hampered development of the area’s rich tourist potential.
"If we had better road infrastructure it would immensely increase the job rate. Areas like the former Transkei and the Wild Coast are great tourism hubs but because of the poor roads people are turned off. “
He said the state’s failure to improve roads was baffling. "Many roads of other provinces are being tarred but not the Eastern Cape.”
The DA’s Jane Cowley said the reserves were falling apart and called for an urgent turnaround based on the recommendations in the report.
“We need to invest more in economic areas like environmental affairs and tourism, which will float our economy and create sustainable jobs faster. This will support other sectors of the economy and the spillover will be felt across the province.”
Port Elizabeth-based independent tourism expert Peter Myles pointed to a recent study by researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Princeton, New Jersey and Washington which found that, globally, parks and nature reserves receive around eight billion visits every year.
These visits generate $600-billion (R7.9-trillion), a huge economic benefit which vastly exceeds the less than $10-billion (R132-billion) spent safeguarding these sites each year.
Myles said these findings were reflected in SA with SANParks registering six million guests at its 21 parks last year, generating 23000 part-time jobs in community programmes and 10000 permanent jobs.
“There is no reason the Eastern Cape nature reserves should not be performing equally well and hopefully the investigation by the portfolio committee will identify the key performance areas and recommend a turnaround strategy.”
The inspection report was debated in the Eastern Cape legislature last week with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) highlighting budget shortcomings.
Duba told the legislature that almost 45% of land under ECPTA management was under land claims by communities in their vicinities.
Problems included:
l The 70km road leading to the 7720ha Mkambati nature reserve from Flagstaff made it hard to access the reserve especially on rainy days.
He also highlighted the negative effect on rivers and the sustainable development of the reserve of having a nearby forestry operation.
“Veld fires are rife throughout the year, as is while illegal sand mining just outside the reserve,” he said.
l The access road to the 5700ha Dwesa-Cwebe was in disrepair, and the reserve’s potential was limited due to lack of funding, and an underdeveloped campsite and chalets.
l At Nduli outside Mthatha, game were under threat from dogs at the neighbouring Mandela Park;
l Luchaba had no electricity due to unresolved challenges with Eskom. Duba said the reserve had to use a diesel generator which cost R88000 a month in diesel.
l Msikaba campsite next to Mkambati was “suffering from gross neglect. There are conflicting reports from the Ngquza Hill municipality, the Eastern Cape department of economic development, environment and tourism and the ECPTA on the shameful state of the campsite.”
lAt Hluleka, between Port St Johns and Coffee Bay, “the Nyandeni local municipality constructed a road through the nature reserve’s unfenced portion without following the proper procedures”.
“This resulted in illegal sand mining at the reserve and the municipality was fined R1-million. It has not implemented the mandatory rehabilitation plan citing the community’s interest in sand mining.”
l Fencing at Silaka was penetrable, putting staff and tourists in danger. Staff accommodation was poor and environmental crimes and poaching of marine stock in the marine-protected area, were on the rise.
“The condition of Silaka’s access road limits accessibility to the reserve, and the co-management agreement between ECPTA and the community has not been concluded.”
Silaka was forced to close two months ago after endless protests.
l At Great Fish between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort, poaching was a severe threat with poachers colluding with people who had an intimate knowledge of the reserve. Seven rhinos had been lost in four poaching incidents March last year.
l The roads at the Baviaanskloof, a World Heritage site, regularly damaged tourist vehicles and there was a critical shortage of rangers.
Plan to pull tourism back from brink
The scheme to create “world class sustainable development” aims to create 116000 direct jobs and contribute R21.4-billion to the economy by 2026. Approved by cabinet, it was announced by Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa yesterday.
It coincides with the release of a hard-hitting report by the provincial portfolio committee on economic development, environmental affairs and tourism showing a chronic collapse of nature reserve tourist facilities across the Eastern Cape.
In an inspection of eight reserves across the eastern and western regions led by ANC committee chair Tony Duba, gross neglect, inaccessible roads, understaffing, escalating poaching, illegal sand-mining, roaming dog packs and problems of invasive alien vegetation were found.
Duba said the reserves were economically vital entities, especially in the eastern region of the province. “There have been some improvements in management following the previous concerns we raised, but there are still challenges and we will not accept dilapidated infrastructure which is paid for by taxpayers.”
UDM president Bantu Holomisa said the appalling state of Eastern Cape roads hampered development of the area’s rich tourist potential.
"If we had better road infrastructure it would immensely increase the job rate. Areas like the former Transkei and the Wild Coast are great tourism hubs but because of the poor roads people are turned off. “
He said the state’s failure to improve roads was baffling. "Many roads of other provinces are being tarred but not the Eastern Cape.”
The DA’s Jane Cowley said the reserves were falling apart and called for an urgent turnaround based on the recommendations in the report.
“We need to invest more in economic areas like environmental affairs and tourism, which will float our economy and create sustainable jobs faster. This will support other sectors of the economy and the spillover will be felt across the province.”
Port Elizabeth-based independent tourism expert Peter Myles pointed to a recent study by researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Princeton, New Jersey and Washington which found that, globally, parks and nature reserves receive around eight billion visits every year.
These visits generate $600-billion (R7.9-trillion), a huge economic benefit which vastly exceeds the less than $10-billion (R132-billion) spent safeguarding these sites each year.
Myles said these findings were reflected in SA with SANParks registering six million guests at its 21 parks last year, generating 23000 part-time jobs in community programmes and 10000 permanent jobs.
“There is no reason the Eastern Cape nature reserves should not be performing equally well and hopefully the investigation by the portfolio committee will identify the key performance areas and recommend a turnaround strategy.”
The inspection report was debated in the Eastern Cape legislature last week with the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) highlighting budget shortcomings.
Duba told the legislature that almost 45% of land under ECPTA management was under land claims by communities in their vicinities.
Problems included:
l The 70km road leading to the 7720ha Mkambati nature reserve from Flagstaff made it hard to access the reserve especially on rainy days.
He also highlighted the negative effect on rivers and the sustainable development of the reserve of having a nearby forestry operation.
“Veld fires are rife throughout the year, as is while illegal sand mining just outside the reserve,” he said.
l The access road to the 5700ha Dwesa-Cwebe was in disrepair, and the reserve’s potential was limited due to lack of funding, and an underdeveloped campsite and chalets.
l At Nduli outside Mthatha, game were under threat from dogs at the neighbouring Mandela Park;
l Luchaba had no electricity due to unresolved challenges with Eskom. Duba said the reserve had to use a diesel generator which cost R88000 a month in diesel.
l Msikaba campsite next to Mkambati was “suffering from gross neglect. There are conflicting reports from the Ngquza Hill municipality, the Eastern Cape department of economic development, environment and tourism and the ECPTA on the shameful state of the campsite.”
lAt Hluleka, between Port St Johns and Coffee Bay, “the Nyandeni local municipality constructed a road through the nature reserve’s unfenced portion without following the proper procedures”.
“This resulted in illegal sand mining at the reserve and the municipality was fined R1-million. It has not implemented the mandatory rehabilitation plan citing the community’s interest in sand mining.”
l Fencing at Silaka was penetrable, putting staff and tourists in danger. Staff accommodation was poor and environmental crimes and poaching of marine stock in the marine-protected area, were on the rise.
“The condition of Silaka’s access road limits accessibility to the reserve, and the co-management agreement between ECPTA and the community has not been concluded.”
Silaka was forced to close two months ago after endless protests.
l At Great Fish between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort, poaching was a severe threat with poachers colluding with people who had an intimate knowledge of the reserve. Seven rhinos had been lost in four poaching incidents March last year.
l The roads at the Baviaanskloof, a World Heritage site, regularly damaged tourist vehicles and there was a critical shortage of rangers.
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