Pretoria - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has called on the public to comment on the department's intention to include certain land as part of the country's eight national parks.
Molewa last week published for public comment the notice in the government gazette under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.
The eight national parks affected by the notice include the Tankwa Karoo, Camdeboo, Mountain Zebra, Namaqua, West Coast, Karoo, Table Mountain and Addo Elephant National Parks.
The South African National Parks (SANParks) obtained the approval from the former Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk to acquire land for inclusion in the eight national parks listed above.
Consequently, SANParks acquired the land to be part of the national parks listed above and concluded a Notarial Lease Agreement.
The land to be included is as follows:
- The land, intended to be part of the Tankwa Karoo National Park, includes portions 1 of the farms Drie Fontein No.8, Leeuw Kloof No.114 and Lange Kloof No.60. The remainder of the farms, Mosquito Kolk No.10, Paarde Kloof No.113 and Leeuw No.114 as well as the farm Paarde Kraal No.4, portion 2 of Leeuw Kloof No.114 and portion 4 of Kleinfontein will also form part of the Tankwa Karoo National Park, 22 501.40ha.
- The Karoo National Park is intended to include portions 5, 6 and the remainder of the farm Klipplaats Fontein No.210 and portions 2 of the farms Afsaal No.302 and Alwynsgat No.187 as well as portion 5 of the farm Hendriks Kraal No.298, portion 4 of the farm Grootfontein No.180, portion 10 of the farm Brandewyns Ghat No.214, the remainder of the farm Brand Kraal No.209 and farm No.202, 10 917.31ha.
- Camdeboo National Park is intended to include farms Nos. 271-272 and Annex Winterhoek No.336, the remainders of Winterhoek No.269 and Annex Corndale No.335, portion 3 of Pienaars Rivier No.208 and portion 4 of Grasrand No.334, 4 489.71ha.
- Land intended to form part of Mountain Zebra National Park include farms No.372 and Toekoms No.567, 3 236.15ha.
- The West Coast National Park is intended to include the remainders of the farms Groote Fontyn No.305 and of portion 3 of Elandsfontyn No.349, 3 361.75ha.
- Land intended to form part of the Namaqua National Park comprise of the remainder of portion 1 of the farm Kanoep No.491 and the remainder of the farms Annex Kanoep No.490 as well as Avontuur No.488 and Diknek No.486, portion 1 of the farm Diknek No.486, portion 7 of the farm Kwoap No.494 and the farm Ghaams No. 492, 9 868.17ha.
- Land intended to form part of the Table Mountain National Park comprise of Erf No. 557 Sea Point East, remainder of portion 10 (Kompanjiestuin) (a portion of portion 2) of farm Kommetjie Estate No. 948 and remaining extent of the farm Olifantsbosch No. 1056 as well as remainder of Erf 90197 and Erf 90239 Cape Town at Kalk Bay, 357mý.
- Addo Elephant National Park is intended to include Portion 305 and 279 of the farm Strathsomers Estate No. 42, Farm No. 416 and Portion 2 of the farm Bloukrans No. 23 as well as portion 8 ( a portion of portion 5) of the farm Coerney, 165.91ha.
Adhering to the consultation process, approval will be sought from the Ministers of Public Works, Rural Development and Land Reform, Transport and Mineral Resources.
Where applicable, the MECs of Local Government, MEC of Environment and Nature Conservation in the Northern Cape, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, MEC of Economic Development, Environment Affairs and Tourism in the Eastern Cape and affected Mayors in the Provinces will also be invited to indicate whether they concur or not with the proposed declaration of listed land.
Interested and affected parties are invited to submit written comments to the minister within 60 days of publication of the notice in the Gazette. Comments received after 60 days will not be considered.
Written comments or inputs can be delivered by hand, mail, email or telefax transmission.
Submissions by post to can be directed to: The Director-General: Environmental Affairs, Attention: Ms S Jhupsee. Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001 or by fax to: 012 322 7114 or 012 320 1243 or by email to smampe@environment.gov.za or hand delivered at: 315 Pretorius Street, corner Pretorius and Van Der Walt streets, Fedsure Forum Building, 2nd Floor, North Tower.
