News

August is a month for celebrating the role that women are playing within SANParks and the conservation community at large. Our organization is proud to boast a number of strong and proactive women leaders, from the executive manager to the CE, Pauline van der Spuy, to the Dr Razeena Wagiet, Executive Director of People and Conservation, to Wanda Mkutshulwa, Head of Corporate Communications-the list goes on.

Conservation has traditionally been perceived as a male-dominated arena. However, more and more women are becoming visible within conservation circles, and are playing an increasingly strong leadership role, both generally speaking within the conservation community, and within our organization.

This is not at all surprising since the women of South African have always played a central role in the daily interaction with natural resources – growing crops, using forest products to make food, medicine, and clothing, and providing shelter for their families.

Despite such responsibilities, these women were in the past often excluded from participating in community decisions about resource use, due to factors including legal and cultural barriers. Barriers to participation still exist, exacerbated by a number of socio economic issues.

Again however, this is changing, with strong women leading by example from within our organisatin. Initiatives such as “take a girl child to work day’ are encouraging girls to take an interest in our natural and cultural heritage. For example, recently, 20 girls from Morithing Thuto School in Clarens were invited to Golden Gate National Park to see what careers are open to them, and how woman are valued within the SANParks structure.

Over the rest of August, and indeed in months and years to come, we look forward to sharing some of the stories of the women within our organization and the roles they play in protecting our parks. Please contact [email protected] with requests and suggestions…