South African National Parks, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority & SAFCOLQ3 and 4 2025/26 Performance; with Deputy Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment met to receive briefings on the third and fourth quarter performance of the South African National Parks (SANParks), iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (iSimangaliso) and South African Forestry Company SOC Limited (SAFCOL) for the 2025/26 financial year, with the Deputy Minister in attendance. The Committee sought to assess performance against approved targets and budgets, examine challenges affecting delivery and consider corrective measures. The Deputy Minister highlighted SANParks’ 90% annual performance, increased tourism revenue, expanded protected land and progress in biodiversity conservation and community development. He noted challenges relating to climate resilience, renewable energy and resource mobilisation. On iSimangaliso, he highlighted its conservation and rural development role but raised concern about constraints arising from Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) funding, which had affected biodiversity management, green jobs and enterprise development. He reported that SAFCOL had achieved 21 of 24 measurable targets, maintained a fatality-free year and improved its performance despite severe weather, ageing infrastructure and operational challenges. SAFCOL reported improved performance but identified liquidity, profitability, processing capacity and ageing infrastructure as continuing challenges. Members questioned its preparedness for climate-related risks, the replacement of ageing equipment, the proposed Timbadola sawmill upgrade, financial sustainability and enterprise development. They also sought clarity on the Mozambique subsidiary matter and measures to prevent recurring operational failures. SAFCOL said a R266 million upgrade of the Timbadola sawmill was undergoing final approval and that funding options were being explored. It also outlined measures to improve infrastructure, equipment replacement and climate resilience. SANParks reported strong annual performance, including increased tourism revenue, expanded protected areas and progress in employment and biodiversity targets. Members sought clarity on climate resilience, community beneficiation, resource mobilisation, infrastructure recovery following flooding, renewable energy initiatives and delays in co-management agreements. SANParks said it was pursuing revenue diversification, fundraising and community-benefit initiatives, while corrective measures were being implemented for areas of underperformance. iSimangaliso reported sound governance and an unqualified audit opinion but recorded lower fourth-quarter performance, largely because EPWP funding constraints affected planned biodiversity, employment and enterprise-development activities. Members questioned the effect on communities, infrastructure and financial sustainability. The entity said commercialisation, infrastructure investment and increased own-generated revenue were being pursued to strengthen sustainability. In his closing remarks, the Deputy Minister proposed that the Committee and Executive jointly motivate for additional funding during the departmental budget process, particularly for EPWP. The Committee requested outstanding written information from the entities, including details on enterprise development, jobs and community benefits, with responses due by 26 August 2026.