Tale-Ga-Morudu community reaps benefits through the LTP’s co-management agreement

Wonderkop, Salt Lake – Limpopo Tourism and Parks (LTP)  Chief Executive Officer Mr. Robert “Rob” Tooley will this afternoon handover a cheque to the value of R 640 050.00 to the Tale-Ga-Morudu community as part of the ongoing benefits of the Co-Management Agreement signed.

LTP has always considered land claims as a good platform to change land ownership pattern in South Africa and has therefore worked hard in partnership with the Land Claims Commission in facilitating post settlement strategy on each state owned Nature Reserve. This is also seen as a way of empowering communities as most of the nature reserves in the province are communal and communities will continue to benefit though this programme.

The LTP views land claims as tool to empower previously disadvantaged communities. Wonderkop Nature Reserve was claimed and successfully restored to the Tale-Ga-Matlala community.  It is worth mentioning that the LTP has signed Co-Management agreements with 20 other communities.

The LTP established good working relations with the Tale-Ga-Morudu community and fulfilled all obligations regarding implementation of the Co-Management agreement, no wonder the community pledged to incorporate some of the land portions to form part of the Greater Wonderkop Conservancy, a move the LTP heartily welcomes.

The R 640 050.00 cheque that we are handing over today is 50 percent of the total amount of the proceeds accrued from Wonderkop Nature Reserve during the Game Auction that was conducted last year, 2010. This is over and above the annual conservation levies the LTP will pay annually to the community.
 
Future Plans include expanding the existing Salt Lake Lodge and further build a holiday Resort at Glen Alpine Dam all of which will form part of the Greater Wonderkop Conservancy. LTP has also identified the Resort as a prime breeding sanctuary for roans, which are rare species in our country.