MAPUNGUBWE – The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, says Mapungubwe was the centre-piece of government's plans for a Transfrontier Conservation Area with Zimbabwe and Botswana.

He was the main speaker during the official launching of the new Mapungubwe National Park, situated near Pontdrift at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.

“These plans would truly restore Mapungubwe's historical position as a central meeting point for cultures and people, and would help us to drive regional development through conservation. Mapungubwe completes our South African heritage triangle. From Robben Island in the southwest to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park on the east coast, to this site in the extreme north of our country, we have brought together the strands of our cultural legacy and our natural splendour to forge a lasting network of heritage, conservation and economic growth," he said.

The CEO of the South African National Parks (SANParks), Mr David Mabunda says the park will establish a world-class interpretative centre to provide a focus for research, education and interpretation of the cul-tural aspect to its visitors.

“The centre, to be established at a cost of about R9 million, will be aimed at not only displaying excavated artefacts, but will also create awareness about their significance and of the area. The interpretative centre will be a hub for social and scientific research, concentrating on archaeological finds as well as identifying threats to this new system as well as nodal points of conservation growth," said Mr Mabunda.

He added that research in the park was very important as it had been accorded World Heritage status. According to him, this status placed a lot of pressure on its management, as there were certain conditions to be fulfilled under the World Heritage Convention.

He explained that SANParks still needed to consolidate the core area of the park further. "It is no secret that support for protected areas is dwindling the world over because of competing challenges and responsibilities of governments, and South Africa is no different," he said.

During its construction, the park created jobs for over 1000 local people through the government's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in the building of roads, fences and accommodation facilities.

The 30 000ha reserve was proclaimed a World Heritage site in July 2003 and boasts a number of tourist attractions, such as giant baobab trees, fever trees, bird watching and game viewing, treetop walks, night drives, and top-of-the-range lodges which cater for a variety of guest requirements, ranging from self-catering Venda-style huts to other luxurious lodges. (Own sources and BuaNews)