Mpumalanga parks get R500k anti-poaching boost

Adekunle OwolabiApril 20, 20261 Mins read9

Interim Chairperson of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency Board Mr. Fish Mahlalela, Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lemmy Mdluli and Executive Manager for Biodiversity Conservation Ms. Nomcebo Kunene pictured with some of the anti-poaching equipment valued at over R500,000 donated through GEF7 funding at Loskop Dam Nature Reserve.

Mbombela – The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency received rhino anti-poaching equipment valued at over R500,000 on Thursday, donated through GEF7 funding from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme and the South African National Biodiversity Institute.

The equipment was officially handed over to the Interim Chairperson of the MTPA Board, Mr. Fish Mahlalela, together with the agency’s management team led by Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Lemmy Mdluli and Executive Manager responsible for Biodiversity Conservation Ms. Nomcebo Kunene.

The donation is aimed at strengthening the fight against poaching at the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve and builds on existing support already being provided by WeWild Africa, which has been supplying the Anti-Poaching Unit and Field Rangers with vehicles and equipment for the past two years.

The agency welcomed the contribution, noting that collaborative partnerships remain critical in enhancing conservation capacity and ensuring the protection of Mpumalanga’s natural heritage.

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Adekunle Owolabi

Adekunle Owolabi is a journalist, political analyst, and digital strategist with experience across Africa and the Middle East. He focuses on international diplomacy, promotes digital inclusion, and advocates for a borderless Africa.