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25 May 2020

Media Release: SANParks Donates Food Parcels and Water Tankers To Mahumani Rural Community

South African National Parks (SANParks) together with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) distributed food parcels and donated water tanks to the Mahumani community near Giyani in Limpopo as part of its COVID-19 response initiative.

SANParks CEO, Fundisile Mketeni said tourism is the main source of income for most communities living adjacent to the national parks and with the arrival of COVID-19, the income has dried up. “That is why we decided to try and make their lives a little easier in these trying times,” said Mketeni.

Most national parks are situated in rural areas affected by poverty, unemployment and a range of other socio-economic problems. These communities rely on the national parks for their survival, either through jobs or business opportunities.

The Mahumani Community, on the border of the Kruger National Park consists of 7 villages and this initiative assisted 300 families with food parcels and 16 water tanks. Funding for the SANParks COVID-19 relief initiative, which is being extended to communities bordering national parks countrywide, has been sourced from SANParks, the SANParks Honorary Rangers and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Talking at the handover event, Chief Aaron Mahumani said this gesture from SANParks speaks louder than words, we are grateful that our people will not go to bed without anything in their stomachs. “Poverty is real in the rural areas as most people are unable to move to the faraway towns and cities where job opportunity are somehow possible and they are back home with no hope – this gesture to the 300 families in Mahumani Village is highly appreciated.”

A total of R13 million has been used to purchase food parcels, hygiene products, education materials and water tanks. A total of almost 8 000 families have been supported nationally. Mketeni concluded by saying that SANParks is an organisation that cares and therefore we feel the need to help our neighbours around the country. “During these uncertain times, we as a country need to stand together and assist where we can and when we can.”

Issued jointly by:
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and South African National Parks

Media Enquiries

Albi Modise
Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Head of Communications
083 490 2871

Reynold Thakhuli
SANParks Acting Head of Communications
073 373 4999
Email: [email protected]