SANParks help vulnerable communities

SANParks have been doing their part in helping communities in and around various national parks across the country during lockdown. Across three Knysna communities and near Marakele National Park, SANParks staff have been distributing food and water.

Along the borders of Marakele National Park, SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni led an initiative to distribute food parcels and food tanks to neighbouring communities on 19 May.

In a statement, Mketeni said: ‘Because of the national Covid-19 lockdown, tourism, which is the main source of income for these communities, has dried up. This has affected the well-being of the families reliant on our national parks for an income. That is why we decided to try and make their lives a little easier in these trying times.’

In the same statement, SANParks stated that R13-million has been sourced to fund these initiatives and sourced from SANParks, the SANParks Honorary Rangers and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

‘A total of R13 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. Mketeni and senior officials from Thabazimbi Local Municipality handed out the much-needed support to the community of Thabazimbi.’

Mketeni concluded: ‘The 150 parcels included a bar of soap, cleaning detergents, masks and groceries. We will ensure that these donations benefit families that have been identified as vulnerable during this unprecedented times. We are aware that children, unemployed women and old people living with small children head some of the families. It is important that as we hand over these much-needed food parcels, we ensure that help is provided directly where it is needed most.’

In Knysna, Dam se Bos, Qolweni and Hornlee 100 recipients received parcels from SANParks on 15 May. Andre Riley, Acting GM of SANParks’ Garden Route National Park spoke to Tourism Update and said: ‘Although the need is great, we are encouraged to give the little we have to help sustain struggling families during COVID-19-related lock down.’

The recipients of the parcels were identified by the Knysna Municipality as part of a response set up by government to interrupt poverty trends.

‘This is a small contribution that will help a small group of families but we continue to raise more food for families. Although 100 parcels were dropped off in Knysna on Monday, 60 more are expected to arrive later this week,’ Park Manager Megan Taplin told Tourism Update.

Image credit: Twitter/ @SANParks

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