Dr david mabunda biography of william
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Monday, 01 September 2014
Programme Director – thank you very much;
The Acting Head of the Department, Mr Thulani Mdakane;
Members of the Interim Board of the MTPA;
Chief Executive Officer of the MTPA,
Mr Jacques Modipane;
Officials from the Department and the MTPA;
Members of the Media;
Ladies and gentlemen;
Good afternoon
May I start by expressing our humble appreciation for accepting our invitation to this Media Briefing, at this time of the day. As journalists, you are the eyes and ears of our people, hence we believe that we must continue to partner and strengthen relations with the media. Your role is to be the ‘mirror’ of our communities hence we continue value yourcontribution in assisting government to be accountable to its citizens. Thank you very much for your attendance.
This is the commitment the ANC has made in its 2014 Election Manifesto –that of “Work(ing) with allies and the people to move South Africa forward….”; and further “Strengthen the bonds of trust and solidarity with our people…..”.
Ladies and gentlemen;
The ANC has committed to “Build an inclusive economy that creates jobs” in order to unlock economic opportunities and improve people’s quality of life.
This commitment is meant to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality which are confronting our government. Our response in this regard, is through the Provincial Economic Growth Blueprint – the Mpumalanga Economic Growth and Development Path (MEGDP) and the Mpumalanga Vision 2030 Plan which aim to decrease Mpumalanga’s unemployment rate (strict definition) from 26, 6% to 16, 4 % by 2019, amongst others.
However in order to achieve this, the economy is expected to create approximately 390 000 additional and sustainable work opportunities by 2019. This means that
25.07.2018 - by Oxpeckers Reporters
SA’s Parliament decides to initiate a forensic investigation into the controversial R1.1-billion MalaMala deal, the country’s most expensive land settlement. Tholakele Nene reports
Lap of luxury: The private game reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park was valued at R750-million, but an out-of-court settlement was made for more than R1-billion. Photo: MalaMala Game Reserve
Parliament’s portfolio committee on rural development and land reform has accepted a proposal for a forensic investigation to be undertaken into the MalaMala deal, according to a statement by the Democratic Alliance (DA).
As part of Transparency International’s Land and Corruption in Africa project, Oxpeckers probed what happened in the settlement of the MalaMala land claim in South Africa — the most expensive in the history of land claim deals, and one which set a precedent for future land claims in the country.
Ken Robertson, the DA’s shadow deputy minister of rural development and land reform, said the forensic investigation will look at how the R1.1-billion settlement deal was finalised in 2013/4.
The luxury game reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park was valued at R750-million, but the Land Claims Court refused to pay this amount and claimants lodged an appeal to the Constitutional Court. Before the case could start, however, an out-of-court settlement was made for more than R1-billion.
“Both the Land Claims Court and High Court ruled that the price envisioned for MalaMala was excessive and not in the best interests of South Africans. However, the deal went through before the case reached the Constitutional Court and this needs to be investigated,” Robertson said.
The forensic investigation will also look into the verification process used to determine who the original beneficiaries of the deal were. According to a report by a high-level panel headed by former president Kgalema Motlan
Thousands Celebrate 100 years of Kruger National Park
InfoImages
Kruger Park News Archive
More than 2000 people gathered at the soccer stadium in Skukuza, Kruger National Park (KNP), to celebrate the park's 110th year of existence.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the park holds a special place in everyone's hearts and, over the last 110 years, it has become an icon for the country on many levels, including conservation, tourism and national pride," said Martinus van Schalkwyk, minister of environmental affairs and tourism during his keynote address.
Van Schalkwyk said Kruger proudly boasts over 1.3 million tourists for the last financial year. The magic million was first exceeded during March 2003 and has remained above one million ever since. This has proven that this is without doubt one of South Africa's top tourism destinations.
"This great icon is also not immune to the single greatest driver of biodiversity loss - climate change - which by mid-century will have a dramatic impact on key eco systems, conservation areas, marine resources and potentially tourism." Termed the KNP's 110 conservation celebration, the event at Skukuza on June 14, was the culmination of a three-week celebration that started on Monday May 26, 2008 with events staged in the various regions of the KNP until the main event in Skukuza.
"The idea with the staggered approach was that as many people as possible should be able to join the celebrations," says William Mabasa, head of public relations in KNP. Other speakers at the event included SANParks chief executive, Dr David Mabunda, who gave a speech on the history of conservation in South Africa with particular reference to Kruger and how it compares with the world.
Kruger's managing executive Dr Bandile Mkhize welcomed guests and dignitaries while professor Mathole Motshekga from the Kara Heritage Institute talked on indigenous culture.
KNP Nxanatseni (south) regional ranger Louis Ol
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