Polokwane Muni: R1.3m for refurbishing rooms at game reserve

POLOKWANE – With the short Easter school holiday starting tomorrow and many residents being unable to retire to a holiday destination, a visit to Polokwane Game Reserve may just be the opportunity to experience pristine nature at their doorstep.

Spokesperson for the municipality, Thipa Selala assured that the negative comment regarding the state of the accommodation and facilities as well as the proposed eco-estate within the facility that have been doing the rounds on social media, are not accurate and a visit to the reserve last week revealed that, although some of the rondavels require urgent repairs, some units were still quite serviceable and will not affect day visitors.

Selala confirmed that the municipality has set aside funds for the refurbishment of the facilities. An amount of R1.087m is budgeted for 2024/25 and R1.587m for 2025/26 and R3.5m for 2026/27 for this purpose.

For the next three financial years, R1.407m, R1.529m and R5m will be spent on the upgrading of the perimeter fence, also allowing for the rhinos that are currently safeguarded off-site, to be returned.

The environmental education centre will also be upgraded at a cost of R1.815m over the next three financial years.

“Regarding concerns about the lack of animals, it’s important to note that the municipality indeed possesses a variety of wildlife. Last year, in February and March, we conducted a successful game auction, which was informed by a census report conducted earlier. The surplus animals were auctioned to maintain a balanced population relative to the reserve’s carrying capacity,” Selala said and added that animal behaviour plays a significant role, as animals often establish territories and exhibit specific movement patterns throughout the day.

Regarding the proposed eco-estate, Selala confirmed that the municipality is currently embarking on a township establishment process for an eco-estate at the game reserve and that this process will guide on the viability and all precautionary measures before the township is approved.

“A portion of the reserve will be subdivided into individual stands earmarked for residential development,” Selala said and explained that eco-estates are housing developments that have a sustainable lifestyle focus, and have been built around some form of nature conservation similar to the Kruger National Park.

The proposed development will comply with the municipality’s Spatial Development Framework and all applicable legislation.

The habitat in the reserve supports a great variety of fauna which include 41 reptile, 58 mammal and 14 frog species. For the bird watchers there are also more than 300 bird species to be viewed.

The reserve covers an area of approximately 3 200 hectares, making it one of the largest municipal game reserves in the country and since the proclamation of the game reserve, many large mammal species have been re-introduced including tsessebe and sable antelope.

Other game species to be found in the reserve include Burchell’s Zebra, kudu, eland, bushbuck, impala, waterbuck, blesbok, blue wildebeest, giraffe, nyala, gemsbok, red hartebeest and springbok.