Private land owners to work with govt to stimulate SA’s economy

A call has been made to private land owners to work with government to stimulate the country’s economic growth.

This emerged at the Indalo Protected Environment Initiative and Game Auction at Mpekweni Resort near Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape.

The objective of Indalo is to promote biodiversity conservation and share lessons and resources on issues affecting the tourism and game industry.

Preserving tourist attractions to develop the Eastern Cape is their aim. Both government and private land owners embarked on such an initiative.

Eight game reserves, with just over 62 000 hectares of land, has been earmarked as a massive contribution to the protected area estate of the province to protect biodiversity.

The preserved land has particular biomes that are unique to the province.

The idea is not only for economic purposes but also to preserve natural resources for future generations.

Land without compensation was not a contributing factor.

The provincial government says this is a step towards the right direction.

Treasury MEC Oscar Mabuyane says: “Working together with whatever pieces of land that are there making it one will make us achieve bigger opportunities in terms of economic development.”

Tourism has been identified as an economic driver for the province and a means to create jobs.

An auction was also held and the monies raised will be channeled into wild life training for the youth in the form of bursaries.

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