News

South African National Parks (SANParks) CEO, Ms Hapiloe Sello, met with different stakeholders who worked with the conservation entity to initiate the Volunteer Safety Services (VSS). The respective meetings were intended to initiate discussions aimed at resolving issues of common interest in so far as safety and security on Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) is concerned.

The VSS was established to enable volunteers to cooperate and collaborate with SANParks in promoting both visitor and park user safety in the TMNP within legal parameters.

Ms Sello emphasised that she was keen to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced with collaborative safety initiatives and ideas for strengthening such ideas.

Individual meetings were held with Mr Andre van Schalkwyk from Table Mountain Watch, Ms Nicky Schmidt from Parkscape, Mr Taahir Osman from Take Back Our Mountain, Mr Kenneth Carden from the SANParks Honorary Rangers and Mr Blake Dyason from Lover Our Trails. The SANParks CEO was accompanied by the Managing Executive for Parks Mr Property Mokoena, Head of Communications Mr JP Louw, Regional General Manager Mr Bongani Mnisi and TMNP Park Manager Ms Megan Taplin.

Discussions were frank and constructive and Ms Sello said that these interactions laid an encouraging base for continued future deliberations to pursue improved collaboration.

While this was a listening exercise, Ms Sello indicated that efforts will be made to look into actions that could be taken immediately. Follow up discussions will be held in future to further consider issues of common interest. SANParks CEP thanked stakeholders for their participation and openness.