News

South African National Parks (SANParks) presented an overall positive overview of the entity’s operational and financial performance for the past financial year.

Addressing the Portfolio Committee on Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment, SANParks Chief Executive Officer, Hapiloe Sello, reported a 11 % increase in revenue from 3.67-billion to R4.1-billion in 2024/25. This is the first time that SANParks revenue exceeds the R4-billion revenue mark. Notably, 75% of this revenue was generated from commercial activities, underscoring the effectiveness of the organisation’s commercial strategies.

Ms Sello also drew attention to the fact that SANParks has a net cash balance of R2.7 -billion and maintains a positive solvency position with total assets exceeding total liabilities by a margin of R3.7-billion. These results demonstrate that SANParks possesses strong financial health, underpinned by solid revenue growth, healthy liquidity, and a resilient balance sheet, confirming that it is a financially sound and well-managed institution.

SANParks also received an unqualified audit outcome for the past year, affirming the strength of its financial governance and management practices.

The entity continues to improve its internal controls, and these efforts have yielded positive results, as reflected in the Auditor-General’s report. The report highlighted areas of improvement, particularly in the quality of the Annual Financial Statements and in Supply Chain Management, where no material findings were identified, an improvement from the prior year. Work continues to strengthen the control environment, with optimism that this will bring further improvements in the coming period.

On the operational front, SANParks achieved 86% of its performance targets – meeting 24 out of 28 goals. Notably, 18 of these targets that were met are also exceeded underscoring the organisation’s commitment to excellence.

Ms Sello also emphasised that SANParks’ exceptional financial and operational performance in the 2024/25 financial year demonstrates its unwavering commitment to conservation, sustainable development, and community empowerment. With a landmark revenue milestone, a robust financial position, and an impressive 86% achievement of performance targets, SANParks continues to strengthen its role as a cornerstone of South Africa’s environmental and socio-economic landscape. These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our team and stakeholders’ efforts to sustainably manage our national parks for future generations while fostering inclusive growth and transformation.