SANParks defends policies
Mabunda added that SANParks salaries, from the general worker to the executive, were benchmarked with the market and based on the complexity of the institution’s functions
SKUKUZA – SANParks is not at all fazed about the fact that Aikona – a non-governmental conservation group – has asked the Public Protector (PP) to have it investigated.
Aikona is of the opinion that the salaries and bonuses of the agency’s top management are too high, while rhino continue to be poached at an alarming rate. Other group concerns included that SANParks was apparently not fulfilling its conservation mandate and was executing poor financial management. It is also strongly against the proposed commercialising of the Kruger National Park (KNP) which would entail the establishment of hotels within the park.
According to SANParks 2012/13 annual report, its CEO was paid a salary of R3,12 million, while receiving a bonus of R715 000. “All of this while more than 400 rhino have to date been poached in the KNP this year,” Mr Gerhard Smit, one of the founders of Aikona, told Lowvelder.
The seven members of the organisation’s top management earned more than R13 million in salaries combined, with R2, 68 million in bonuses.
“Last year, 40 roan antelope, a rare and endangered species, died within an enclosure in the park,” said Smit. According to the application he submitted to the PP’s office, this was an indication that officials hadn’t carried out regular monitoring of the animals. “Apart from a lack of water in the area, the presence of anthrax should have signalled the activation of various preventative measures, some of which were established decades ago by previous park rangers and conservationists.”
Minister of environmental affairs Ms Edna Molewa admitted that the deaths could have been avoided through better monitoring of the camp. “In our view, this constitutes a gross dereliction of duty by SANParks, a travesty and a massive failure to adhere to its conservation mandate. This alone merits investigation,” Aikona’s request added.
Lowvelder asked the organisation’s CEO Dr David Mabunda how he felt about this. He responded, “Aikona is in the business of slinging mud at an institution with an impeccable management track record with clean audits for the past 19 years.”
He said SANParks’ mandate was unequivocal and included sustainable development to protect biological assets.
“We are part of the Convention on Biological Diversity which promotes biodiversity and grants access to parks by communities and creates benefits to sustain livelihoods. What Aikona doesn’t understand, is that we live in the 21st century where colonial and apartheid conservation approaches do not serve the needs of the majority of the population. We are creating access to parks for all market segments and the hotels it is against, are intended for this purpose, hence they’ve been approved by the board and the department.”
Mabunda added that SANParks salaries, from the general worker to the executive, were benchmarked with the market and based on the complexity of the institution’s functions, decision-making levels, size of budget, number of employees and the wide spectrum of stakeholders with which it dealt. “The board utilises services of reputable independent experts to arrive at appropriate salary levels for all its employees at regular intervals, in line with the best practice. We do not wake up in the morning and decide how much to pay ourselves. Singling out my salary is cheap politicking of the worst order,” he said.
Mabunda continued, “I will repeat what I told Aikona, ‘Go to court if you feel there is any wrongdoing on our part and we will meet you there… and stop this constant abuse of democratic institutions whose resources are already overstretched.’ The group is entitled to its opinion on how we fulfil the conservation mandate, but its opinion is not reflected in the Auditor General’s reports or the general public’s sentiment on our performance. If we were not fulfilling it, the national parks system would long since have collapsed.”
At the time of going to press, the PP’s office had not responded on whether it would indeed investigate SANParks. However, Smit said an advocate had already been assigned to the case.
