News

Following months of consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, today, South African National Parks (SANParks) published the draft Tokai Cecilia Implementation Plan (TCIP) for public comment in terms of the Tokai Cecilia Management Framework (TCMF) Review Process.

An online information session – hosted by SANParks Executives Acting CEO Mr Dumisani Dlamini, Mr Property Mokoena (Parks) and Dr Luthando Dziba (Conservation Services) – highlighted the background and objective of the draft TCIP and outlined projects and programmes earmarked for implementation in the Tokai and Cecilia areas of the Park.

According to Mr Property Mokoena, Managing Executive for Parks, “Publication of the draft TCIP is a key milestone in the TCMF review. It marks the culmination of hundreds of hours of work by our stakeholders and staff. This is reflected in the high quality, large number, breadth and insightfulness of the recommendations we received.”

During Phase 2 of the TCMF Review Process SANParks appointed external facilitators, ‘Fixed’, to assist the Convenors Prof Wendy Foden and Dr Howard Hendricks in designing and facilitating focused workshops. These stakeholder-driven workshops involved establishment of seven Working Groups, comprising stakeholder and SANParks representatives: fire management, biodiversity conservation, heritage, communications, safety and security, facilities and health and wellbeing of both people and nature. Groups’ submissions contain a wide range of visions and 300+ proposals for action in the Tokai and Cecilia areas.

Proposals have been individually evaluated and grouped into themes and streamed into strategic actions. Those that align with or can be accommodated within the existing Park Management Plan are incorporated as ‘Programmes’. These include long-term ongoing activities that occur across the wider TMNP as part of ‘normal’ Park operations. Proposals that are area specific and/or project based and typically involve an upgrade development or a change in use of a site or facility have been incorporated into the draft IP as ‘Projects’.

Plans include development of the Tokai Manor precinct as a visitor and tourism gateway for broad-scale recreational activities into the rest of Tokai and the Park, and opening of an Arboretum parking area and Lister’s place. Also included are ongoing upgrades to trails and recreational facilities, and a range of actions to improve fire management, safety and security and stakeholder communication. Large-scale alien removal, fynbos restoration and wetland rehabilitation are covered, all of which contribute to the Park’s World Heritage Site Status. An extension of the MTO forestry plantation lease will be investigated, and trees planted to provide shade in suitable areas for the future. Environmental education and interpretation plans include celebrating the diverse histories and cultural heritage of the area. The invaluable role that volunteers and partnerships are already playing in developing Tokai and Cecilia was gratefully acknowledged.

“Mr Dumisani Dlamini, Acting CEO of SANParks: “Good plans rely on a wide diversity of views and inputs. We’ve engaged with each and every recommendation and believe that this draft plan is a great foundation for management of the Tokai and Cecilia sections of Table Mountain National Park”.

SANParks would like to thank all the stakeholders who joined the online information session and would like to remind the public that the draft TCIP is made available for a 31-day public and stakeholder commenting period from 13 April 2022 to 20 May 2022. Comments can be submitted via email to [email protected]

An open day interactive session will be held in early May to provide the opportunity for stakeholders to clarify aspects of the draft Implementation Plan before submitting their comments.

For more information please visit SANParks website at https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/about/tokai-cecilia.php

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Issued by: South African National Parks Communications.

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