The entity came into existence on 1 April 2006 following the merger of the now-defunct Mpumalanga Parks Board and Mpumalanga Tourism Authority.

The mandate of the entity is to provide for the sustainable management and promotion of Tourism and
Nature Conservation in the Province and to ensure the sustainable utilisation of natural resources. The
entity in its endeavours to meet the long-term survival and sustainable use of these species, is required,
from time to time, to reduce surplus game in provincial nature reserves to meet these reserves ecological
management objectives.

The MTPA in line with the relevant national policy imperatives has taken a conscious decision to establish their wildlife economy programme whereby surplus game be donated to historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs) that have largely been excluded from the game farming industry.

The aim of the MTPA wildlife donation programme is to redress the exclusion of the HDIs from the game
farming industry by creating opportunities where local communities and emerging game farmers can
establish their own wildlife enterprises.

This is achieved through mechanisms for the transparent and equitable supply of founder herds of game to applicants thereby supporting them to establish viable wildlife enterprises, whilst also raising awareness for conservation, protected areas management and sustainable utilisation principles in the wildlife industry.

Towards the implementation of the MTPA wildlife donation programme, the following animals are offered
for wildlife donation in 2026.

Mpumalanga Wildlife Donation Programme – Advertisement for Applications 2026/2027
.

APPLICABILITY:

This call for participation in respect of the MTPA game donation programme is applicable/open to historically disadvantaged individuals (preference to women and youth); this to ensure the implementation of the MTPA game donation policy to promote the transformation agenda of the
country.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applicants must complete the attached application form: Applications must be submitted to the above-mentioned address, no later than the closing date as stipulated above.

QUALIFYING CRITERIA:

Size of the property (preferably 100 ha and above), Availability of water provision, Game fence 1.8-2.4m, Grazing Capacity (to be determined through Site Assessment by the Ecological Team) Traversable internal roads, Land ownership either through Title Deed, PTO or leased 10 years and above.

TERMS:

Applications will be evaluated according to the MTPA criteria for game donation to determine if the application is complete and the applicant qualifies. Thereafter, a site suitability evaluation/site assessment of the relevant property will be conducted and a recommendation made to the accounting officer for further consideration.

All game donations will be subject to:

• Compliance with the provisions of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act No.
  10 of 2004 (“the NEMBA”);
• Compliance with the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations promulgated under the
  National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act No. 10 of 2004 (“the TOPS Regulations”).
• Compliance with disease control as prescribed in South African legislation;
• Verification of ownership of the property;
• Evaluation of the suitability of the property for game species applied for; and
• The signing of a game donation agreement with the MTPA
  Proximity to the provincial nature reserves where surplus game will be captured will be an added
  advantage.
  
• The land must be owned by a previously disadvantaged person/persons or they must have a majority share (the title deed of land must be registered in such person’s name or the ownership of the farm must fully satisfy the BBBEE conditions of ownership stipulated by the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (Act of 53 of 2003) or any other notices published in terms thereof and, in terms of the provision of the MTPA game donation policy, such ownership must reflect a minimum 51% black ownership).
  
• MTPA reserves the right not to make game donations and/or cancel the process if it is deemed to be in the interest of the department and/or biodiversity conservation on the provincial nature reserves.
  

Please visit www.mpumalanga.com to download the application form.

For more information, contact: Ms Busisiwe Buthelezi Tel: 065 0266, Cell: 082 903 1355 or E-mail: Busisiwe.Buthelezi@mtpa.co.za