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Media Release: Keep Kruger Clean Pledges Handed Over

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Date: 14th March 2007

Pledges to Keep Kruger Clean were presented to the Development Bank of South Africa and Kruger National Park’s (KNP) 10 entrance gates today (Wednesday March 14, 2007) by the Executive Director of the KNP, Dr Bandile Mkhize.

Pledges to Keep Kruger Clean were presented to the Development Bank of South Africa and Kruger National Park’s (KNP) 10 entrance gates today (Wednesday March 14, 2007) by the Executive Director of the KNP, Dr Bandile Mkhize.

“We need to encourage everyone in joining us with this task of reinforcing the message of Keep Kruger Clean and these pledges will hopefully encourage more people to refrain from littering in our national park,” said Dr Mkhize.

The framed pledges will be placed on display at all 10 entrance gates of the Kruger National Park: Pafuri, Punda Maria, Phalaborwa, Orpen, Kruger, Phabeni, Numbi, Malelane, Crocodile Bridge and Giriyondo.

More than 100 school children took part in the launch of the Keep Kruger Clean Campaign on Saturday June 24, 2006 and it was at this event that 138 of those children, SANParks staff members and members of the public who attended the Keep Kruger Clean events at the KNPs various gates added their signatures to the pledge document.

“Those that added their signatures to this pledge document have all stood up to be counted as part of the army against littering,” added Dr Mkhize.

The Keep Kruger Clean campaign planned for this year involves an intensive effort involving taxi associations and the media and it will take place on July 20, 2007. More details will be announced closer to that date.

“And what we do today will hopefully act as a spark to get people involved with this initiative of Keeping Kruger Clean. As I said at the launch last year, there is a very important reason why we should be extra careful when it comes to littering. This beautiful place called the Kruger National Park is a national treasure that we should be looking after. Someone who litters is not creating employment but is merely making a mess. Not only is litter horrible to the eye, but it can actually be dangerous as animals can swallow or hurt themselves and it is for this reason why initiatives such as Keep Kruger Clean Campaign need to be run, year in and year out, in a national park like our beloved Kruger,” Dr Mkhize concluded.

The fine for littering in a National Park according to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act Act 57 of 2003 is R300.

Captions:
Nxanatseni Presentation.jpg
KNP HOD Tourism and Marketing Ms Lucy Nhlapo-Sekete presenting a representative from Nxanatseni Region, Mr Albert Machaba with a framed copy of the Keep Kruger Clean Pledges.DBSA Presentation.jpg

DBSA Mpumalanga Region Co-ordinator Mr Dirk Bornman receives a framed copy of the Keep Kruger Clean Pledges from KNP Executive Director Dr Bandile Mkhize.

Marula Presentation.jpg
KNP HOD Tourism and Marketing Ms Lucy Nhlapo-Sekete presenting the Marula Regional Manager Ms Nasiwe Nelani with a framed copy of the Keep Kruger Clean Pledges.

Nkayeni Presentation.jpg
KNP HOD Tourism and Marketing Ms Lucy Nhlapo-Sekete presenting the Nkayeni Regional Manager Mr Isaiah Nyakane with a framed copy of the Keep Kruger Clean Pledges.

Issued by:
Raymond Travers, Media Relations Practitioner, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4116, cell: 082 908 2677 or email: raymondt@sanparks.org

Enquiries:
William Mabasa, HOD: Public Relations and Communications, Kruger National Park. Contact: Tel: 013 735 4363, cell: 082 807 3919 or email: williamm@sanparks.org