Page 8 - Environmental Affairs

Lekgalameetse belongs

to people of Tzaneen!

By Lydia Makamedi

Above: The Deputy Minister unveils the new infrastructure
development at Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.

Above: The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Above: Some of the new facilities built for the community in
Ms Makhotso Sotyu addresses traditional leaders and communities at Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in Tzaneen, Limpopo.

he Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the “The facilities we are unveiling today form part of the
Environment Ms Sotyu officially handed over People and Parks initiative, which invests in infrastructure
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve to the communities development and biodiversity conservation for
Tfalling under Greater Tzaneen Municipality on 30 economic benefits by ensuring that local communities
March 2021. The Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve is part are involved in the management of protected and
of People and Parks programme that was piloted by the surrounding areas, and by promoting biodiversity values
Department in 2003. in the proclaimed protected and surrounding areas,”
Addressing traditional leaders and six beneficial she said.
communities, on whose land the Nature Reserve is
situated, the Deputy Minister said the People and Parks Mr Laurence Mogakane, National Chairperson of People
programme aims to redress the injustices of the past. and Parks was pleased with the progress that the People
and Parks is making. He urged communities to be active
“Through the People and Parks programme, the participants in decision making.
Department strives to ensure that communities that
were forcefully removed from their land in an effort to “From the People and Parks perspective, we urge the
create protected areas by the apartheid regime, enjoy land claimants to also participate not only as providers
socio-economic benefits of those protected areas. The of labour but also in the decision making process.
Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve is one such area. It is a Community members must be offered learnership
key biodiversity area within the lower Olifants catchment,” programmes and those who are unskilled must be
she said. given training. This will enable them to look well after their
properties and continue to drive and enjoy the benefits
During the handover, the Deputy Minister also unveiled a of their forefathers’ lands economically for generations
new infrastructure aimed at promoting local tourism and to come,” he concluded.
environmental protection.

About the contributor: Lydia Makamedi

Ms Lydia Makamedi is an intern in the Communications and Advocacy Chief Directorate at the Department of Forestry,
Fisheries and the Environment. She holds an honours degree in communications from the University of Limpopo. Ms
Makamedi is a gym fanatic and loves watching cricket.

6 Environment Quarterly: April – May 2021