Caption: An Official presenting the good news to community members
By Kopano Dibakwane
When elephants wander into maize fields at night and poachers slip through broken lines in the dark, the line between conservation and community survival blurs.
That fear is often a common reality in communities living on the edge of nature reserves.
In a proactive intervention to remedy the fears of local residents, the MTPA(Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency) joined Kruger National Park and the civic organisation called People and Parks, at Spelanyane Community Hall, for a community engagement meeting on a new fencing project aimed at tackling human-wildlife conflict around Kruger National Park and Mthethomusha Nature Reserve.
The project reportedly comes with an allocation of at least R37 million and is set to commence by the end of May 2026, expected to be completed within a period of twelve months.
MTPA said high-quality fencing will be installed to prevent wildlife from straying into villages, protect crops and livestock, and curb illegal poaching activities within the two protected areas.
“ The community engagement process will be followed by the appointment of the main contractor, as well as local contractors who will participate as subcontractors. Employment opportunities will also be created for members of the local communities to ensure the smooth implementation of the project,”said MTPA.
According to the MTPA, the life-changing project was warmly received by community members, traditional council leaders, and local business forums.
