The Chairperson of the Mayibuye Community Trust, Mr Welcome Mphanga, has called for an urgent end to poaching to preserve the legacy of future generations.
Photo: Mr Welcome Mphanga (right), with members of the Mayibuye Community who are employed at BFG Retail (left to right), Mduduzi Miya, Sibusiso Kuzwayo and Siboniso Hlongwane.
Speaking on behalf of his community in the Camperdown area where the big five Mayibuye Community Game Reserve is currently under development, he explained, “Our people must learn to love animals, not just their cattle, goats and dogs at home, but game, which they need to realise is far more valuable for trading than cattle.”
“We have a big educational problem on our hands and we need government support to teach the community about the negative effects of poaching. If they poach, they are stealing from their children in future generations.”
The urgent Mayibuye Community Trust plea to end poaching comes ahead of the introduction of the big five, including rhino and elephant, to the Camperdown area by early 2015. This will see the re-introduction of free-roaming elephant to the area for the first time in 150 years.
A residential component, including 3 luxury lodges, will add to the tourism appeal of the development. The reserve, which currently covers 4 650ha, will eventually stretch from Camperdown to Inanda Dam in the east and up to the Wartburg area in the north.
“We have set up a ground-breaking interface between community upliftment, conservation and commerce. Our people have an ongoing source of jobs and income and with the relocation of BFG Retail to Mayibuye they will not have to travel to the city to work.”
The Mayibuye Community is partnering with BFG through an Equity Trust established by BFG (25% stake in BFG) and will see the creation of between 150 -200 new jobs by the same date.
Factory staff from the Mayibuye community are currently working on manufacturing steel products, including an order for window frames and doors for 1 500 houses in Hluhluwe.
Mayibuye social upliftment projects are already operational with three crèches providing two meals per day to over 300 children.
“This project is our victory… one that will bring our people and future generations far more wealth than poaching ever could,” concluded Mphanga.