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The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency has been established in terms of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency Act of 2005, Act No.5 of 2005, and listed as a Schedule 3C Public Entity. 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 for sound game management. The MTPA in line with the relevant National Biodiversity 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 game farming in the recent past.

The aim of the MTPA game donation scheme is to redress the exclusion of the HDIs from the game farming industry by creating opportunities where HDI 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 Game Donation Scheme the following animals are offered for donation in 2024.

APPLICABILITY:
This call for applications in respect of the Game Donation Scheme is applicable/open to historically disadvantaged individuals (preference will be given to women and youth) to promote the transformation agenda of the country.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
Applicants must complete the following application form:
Application Forms

Applications must be submitted to the above-mentioned address, not 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 dertemined through Site Assessment by the Ecological Team) Traversible internal roads, Land ownership either through Title Deed, PTO or leased 10 years and above

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. In the case of business enterprises preference will be given to applicants with black ownership of 51% or more.

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 in which MTPA is the Management Authority

For Technical enquiries please contact: Ms Busisiwe Buthelezi Tel. 013 065 0266, Cell. 082 903 1355 or E-mail: Busisiwe.Buthelezi@mtpa.co.za