Hundreds of residents living around national parks in the Northern Cape received welcome relief when Sanparks distributed food parcels in their communities.
Fundisile Mketeni, CEO of Sanparks, says the impact of the lockdown on the tourism and hospitality industry has also affected national parks.
This, in turn, has resulted in huge losses in income for the many families reliant on tourism and related activities.
“We need to do what we canto assist,” says Mketeni.
“We know it is not enough, but it is a small contribution. We will continue to raise funds.”
The initiative started on 15 May when Lucius Moolman, regional manager of Sanparks’ Arid Region, together with the Riemvasmaak Trust and !Kai-Garib Municipality, delivered food parcels to 150 households in Riemvasmaak and Vredesvallei.
These communities are adjacent to the Augrabies Falls National Park.
A further 750 hampers were distributed in communities around the Kgalagadi Transfrontier, Meerkat, Mokala, Namaqua and |Ai-|Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier parks.
Moolman says it is a great honour to be part of this project and to bring a little bit of relief to the communities who are an integrated part of the Arid Region.
This donation is part of Sanparks’ fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
A total of R6 million will be used to purchase food parcels, hygiene products, education materials and water tanks.
A total of 7 500 families will be supported nationally.
