3rd BIANNUAL PEOPLE AND PARKS CONFERENCE Conservation for the People with the People

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3rd BI-ANNUAL PEOPLE AND PARKS
CONFERENCEConservation for the People with the
People
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FREE STATE PROVINCIAL REPORT

• MAFIKENG, NORTH WEST PROVINCE
• 31 AUGUST- 02 SEPT.2008

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1.INTRODUCTION

• 1.1. STATUS FOR MOROKAS HOEK AND GROOTHOEK LAND
  CLAIM
• The Conservation Directorate is the overseer of
  People and Parks in the Province
• Province manages 7 Resorts 13 Protected Areas
• Only two PAs are affected by Land Claims in the
  Province

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2. BACKROUND

• The area is approximately 1553,7646 ha
• The Park was earmarked for development by the
  Bophuthatswana government as a conversation area
  in 1982 through a land dispossession process

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CONTINUE....

• The claimants held their right in land in terms
  of residential, arable and grazing prior to
  removal
• Removals were done to make a way for the Dam,
  Nature Reserve, Landing strip and a Hotel

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3. REASONS FOR CLAIM

• The claimants did not receive compensation for
  their properties
• The Land claim process is at an advanced stage
  and is meant to be completed by December 2008

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4. MoA

• The process of finalising a MoA between the
  stakeholders and the claimants has been kick
  started and is meant to be completed in two weeks
  time
• The MoA will address issues of benefit sharing,
  co-management etc

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5. RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS

• The LCC will spearhead the process of completing
  an MoA with all the relevant stakeholders as a
  matter of urgency.

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Continue

• Below is the list of all stakeholders at Morokas
  hoek and Groothoek
• Land Claims Commission
• Provincial Land Reform Office
• Public Land Support Service
• Agriculture
• Sun International South Africa
• Thaba Nchu Sun Hotel

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conti

• The DTEEA
• The DWAF
• N. Georgiou Trust (NGT)
• The DPWRT

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6. STATUS OF QWAQWA NATIONAL PARK LAND CLAIM

• QQNP land claims involves a approximately 23
  farms
• The LCC has gazetted the QQNP Land Claim about
  two weeks ago
• The land claim delayed a lot due to verification
  process

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Continued

• There are a few sticking points which are meant
  to be resolved in due course with the claimants,
  these will also need an MoA.

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7. PROGRESS THUS FAR

• Since the last conference the DTEEA has held
  numerous meetings with Communities Living in
  Parks, necessarily to assist them with the
  progress of their claims
• An excellent rapport exists between us and the
  claimants
• There has been an excellent working relations
  between us and the LCC

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8. POST SETTLEMENT PREPARATIONS

• Plans are in place to capacitate communities for
  post settlement activities
• Workshop will be conducted where various role
  players will be invited for presentation
• Meeting will be called between Local Government
  and District Municipality to inform them about
  the state of this claims

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9. In conclusion

• The verification processes that coupled the land
  claims processes could not allow us any
  opportunity to have any institutional
  arrangements with regard to issues such as
  co-management and benefit sharing, however any
  opportunity now exists for bigger progress.

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• The End