Protesters damage game reserve fence

WILD animals at the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park could make their way in to nearby communities after protesters damaged sections of the fence.

The community of Bhiliya embarked on a violent protest this week, complaining about the lack of employment opportunities provided by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife. The mob went on the rampage, and Ezemvelo officials said the protesters were not prepared to talk to them, but demanded the organisation employ them.

“When the protesters were told that the organisation currently did not have any employment opportunities to offer all of them, they continued with cutting down poles and burning them, and started cutting the fence,” said Ezemvelo.

The newly erected fence was put up through donations by the Peace Parks Foundation nearly three years ago. Ezemvelo’s acting chief executive Ntsikelelo Dlulane said their officials were forced to retreat when they realised that their lives were in danger.

Dlulane said this was the second incident within a month, and they feared that the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park would be without a fence if such incidents were not curbed. According to the financially distressed organisation, millions of rand would be required to fix it.

“The organisation is always criticised for having porous fences when, at times, it is some community members who destroy our fences. The bigger risk is that one of the dangerous animals may walk out of the reserve and harm innocent human beings,” said Dlulane.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is a “Big Five” game reserve and therefore has lions, rhinos, elephants and buffalos among others.

Bhiliya community leader Mzokhona Mngwengwe said they had planned to protest peacefully, but things turned sour.

He said young people complained that they were being overlooked and the organisation was employing people from other areas.

“We have been calling for employment opportunities for a very long time now. You can't have a reserve operating under your nose, while providing zero benefit to the community,” he said.

Mngwengwe condemned the violence and the damage to infrastructure, saying young people were urged not to engage in destructive behaviour.

He said the sad part was that if dangerous animals escaped from the game reserve, it would be a disaster for the community.

Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo said the protest did not affect the whole game reserve, and operations were ongoing.

“The fact that the community damaged the fence means that we must now take our game rangers to constantly patrol that affected side until it’s resolved. This means that we are diverting our already scarce resources and this will affect our functioning,” he said.

KZN provincial police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed the incident and said a case of malicious damage to property was opened for investigation.

KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Ravi Pillay condemned the incident, saying they were concerned by the threat that such acts pose to the staff.

“This will also have huge financial implications for Ezemvelo, which is still reeling from the financial pressures precipitated by Covid-19. While the community’s right to protest is respected, such protests should be carried out in accordance with the law and should not – in any way – threaten the well-being of any individual or pose a threat to wildlife and the environment,” said Pillay.