News

Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Edna Molewa on 2 March 2012 published under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003 (Act No. 57 of 2003), the declaration of certain land to be part of five South African National Parks in Notice 150 of 2012, Gazette No. 35073, of 2 March 2012.

The five national parks affected by this declaration include the Agulhas, Addo Elephant, Mokala, Tankwa Karoo and Namaqua National Parks. Minister Molewa on 15 July 2011 published for public comment the Department”s intention to declare land as part of five national parks whereby members of the public were invited to submit comments within 60 days.

The land declared to be part of the Agulhas National Park includes Portion 4 of the farm Rietfontein A299, 287.16ha.

Three portions of land will now form part of the Namaqua National Park. These include portions of three farms including Michells Bay No.495, Kliphuis No.496 and the remaining extent of Kanoep No.491, 5 763.40ha.

Addo Elephant National Park will be expanded in the Jansenville Registration Division including Portion 1 of the farm Vaalnek No.233, Portions 1 and 2 of the farm Request No.234 and the remaining extent of the farm Vaalnek No.233 as well as land within the Uitenhage Registration Division as follows: Portion 32 of the farm Addo Drift East No.124, the remaining extent of the farm Milverton No.121, the remaining extent of Portion 2 of the farm Milverton No.121, Portion 1 of the farm Marion Baree No.120, Portion 5 of the farm Milverton No.121 and the remaining extent of Portion 1 of the farm Lismore No.128, 5 791.72ha.

Minister Molewa will also gazette the remainder of the Valsch Fontein No.105 and Portion 2 of the farm Valsch Fontein No.105 as part of the Mokala National Park, 2 894.31ha.

The Tankwa Karoo National Park now extends to include the farms Ymasqua No. 14, Onderste Wagendrift No.15, the remainder of Drie Fontein No.8, Plat Fontein No.11 and Mieries Fontein No.1093, 22 501.40ha.

As part of the consultation process, the Ministers of Public Works, Rural Development and Reform and Mineral Resources were invited to indicate whether they concur with the proposed declaration of the listed land. Where applicable, the Member of Executive Council (MEC) of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, MEC of the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs in the Eastern Cape, MEC of the Department of Environment and Nature Conservation in the Northern Cape and affected mayors in the Provinces were also invited to indicate whether they concur with the proposed declaration of the listed land. Comments received were reviewed and the draft declarations were revised and published on 2 March 2012.

To access the Gazettes, please click on the link below:
Land Declaration

Issued by:
The Department of Environmental Affairs on 8 March 2012

Media queries:
Albi Modise on 083 490 2871