(GDARD) MEC participates in Abe Bailey game count

Gauteng Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) MEC participates in Abe Bailey game count

16 April 2010

Gauteng Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza joined the Sustainable Use of Environment Chief Director Pirate Ncube and his team in the Abe Bailey Nature Reserve game count. Nature Conservation team from Head Office, Roodeplaat, Suikerbosrand and Abe Bailey Nature Reserves ensured a successful game count. Have you ever wondered why GDARD nature conservationists are always in boots and dressed like soldiers?

They are the soldiers of nature. On this day, the team, led by Willem de Lange, had to go around 4 250 hectares counting animals in Abe Bailey and that is hard work.

Nico Grobler explained that there are four dominating wild animals that can be found in Abe Bailey Nature Reserve: zebra, springbok, black wildebeest and red hartebeest. These four main animals are the most economically preferred when it comes to selling. He also emphasised that although all the species are equally important in the reserve, the black wildebeest is the most important and a rare animal found only in South Africa.

How do they differentiate the sex of these animals? Zebras' male genitals are not visible from the outside; they have a thin black line running down the middle of the buttocks from tail to the stomach while female lines are broader. Springbok males have thicker horns than females and females mainly stay in groups. Male black wildebeest have thicker and bigger horns and females are smaller. “Wild animals take care of themselves, they are not like domestic animals, the only thing nature conservators can do is to offer a conducive environment such as grazing space so as to keep a healthy genetic population,” Grobler said.

The MEC congratulated and encouraged nature conservators to keep up the good work. The MEC also visited the nursery in Abe Bailey where indigenous medicinal plants like African potato are planted.

Issued by: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
16 April 2010
Source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdard.gpg.gov.za/)

R40 MILLION CHEQUE TO LESOTHO FOR MALOTI-DRAKENSBERG TRANS-FRONTIER PARK DEVELOPMENT

MEDIA STATEMENT

09 APRIL 2010

DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT MINISTER HANDS OVER R40 MILLION CHEQUE TO LESOTHO FOR MALOTI-DRAKENSBERG TRANS-FRONTIER PARK DEVELOPMENT

The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, today, 09 April handed over a R40 million cheque to the Kingdom of Lesotho Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Ms Lebohang Ntsinyi at Maseru Sun in Lesotho. The funds are for the development of the Maloti-Drakensberg Trans-Frontier Park (MDTP).

The Lesotho Minister requested South Africa to assist in sourcing seed funding for the upgrading of the 54 km Sani Top to Mokhotlong road as part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Trans-Frontier Park development. South Africa duly complied and succeeded in securing R40 Million from the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF).

The R40 million is intended to serve as start-up capital which means that the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho will provide funding for the completion of the road and the total cost is estimated at R336 million.

This amount will amongst others cover topographic surveys, construction material investigations, hydraulic and hydrological surveys, design, environmental impact assessment, construction and supervision of construction. It is envisaged that the design phase will take about 18 months and construction work about 36 months.

More than five years ago, the Governments of the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa signed agreements establishing the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation and the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA). The agreements created a platform for the development of joint projects which have mutual benefit for the people of the two countries. The adoption of the TFCAs Strategy for 2010 and beyond, focuses on positioning the transfrontier parks as Southern Africa’s premiere international tourist destination. In adopting that strategy, we were aware of multiple challenges facing our countries, such as inaccessibility of our tourism attractions and lack of adequate resources to improve our tourism assets.

“I take it for granted that we all know that we need good road infrastructure for facilitation of cross border movement of tourists and eco tourism development . Therefore, the two countries have prioritized the upgrading of the Sani Pass Road. The upgrading has been completed on the South African side. I would like to thank the African Renaissance Fund for availing R40 million for the upgrading of Sani Pass Road on the Lesotho side. Institutional arrangements will be put in place to ensure proper coordination of the project,” said Mabudafhasi.

The handover of funds was followed by a cross border clean up between Maseru and South Africa. The focus on border posts is important as they are points of entry for tourists using land based transport and often impact on a tourist’s first impression of a country.

To access the speeches delivered by the Deputy Minister visit

http://www.environment.gov.za//Documents/Documents/2010Apr9/DM SPEECH MDTP CHEQUE HANDOVER FINAL.doc

and http://www.environment.gov.za//Documents/Documents/2010Apr9_2/DM SPEECH FOR MASERU BORDER POST CLEAN UP FINAL 08 APRIL.doc

For media queries contact:

Moses Rannditsheni: 082 448 2450 or

Roopa Singh: 082 225 3076

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ON 09 APRIL 2010

President Jacob Zuma conveys condolences to the government and the people of the Republic of China

15 April 2010

His Excellency President Jacob Zuma today, 15 April 2010, conveyed heartfelt condolences to President Hu Jintao, the government and people of the People's Republic of China following a strong earthquake that struck China's western Qinghai province on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 killing more than 600 people and leaving scores injured and displaced.

President Jacob Zuma said: "On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to President Hu Jintao, the government of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese people during these trying moments following the earth quake that wreaked havoc and resulted in untold distress in China's Province of Qinghai.

"It is unfortunate that natural disasters have become a common phenomenon around the world and continue to gravely afflict humanity at a time when people experience a myriad of development challenges.

"I have all the confidence that the Chinese authorities will deploy all the necessary efforts to save more lives in this disaster and bring the much needed relief to the affected communities," concluded President Zuma.

For more information contact:
Mahlatse Mminele
Cell: 082 8899 432

Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
15 April 2010