Madikwe & Pilanesberg elephant management: North West report; Kirstenbosch infrastructure: SANBI briefing

Video The Committee received a follow-up briefing from the North West Parks and Tourism Board (NWPTB) and North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (NW DEDECT) on the Provincial Elephant Task Team (PETT) final report on the management of elephant populations in the Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park, and a briefing from the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) on infrastructure challenges at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Opening the meeting, the Chairperson said most undertakings made by the North West department at the Committee's oversight visit in October 2025 had still not been submitted to Parliament, including the final PETT report, which undermined the work of the Committee. Deputy Minister Narend Singh said the Minister had reviewed the PETT report and asked North West to develop a detailed implementation plan, a costing strategy and a stakeholder communication plan. Presenting the PETT findings, Prof Sam Ferreira of the South African National Parks said management had shifted focus from elephant numbers to elephant impact, shaped by access to water, food, safety and comfort. Madikwe required urgent intervention to reduce foliage use by 10% over five years, while Pilanesberg required proactive management to maintain current foliage use. Options considered included contraception, translocation and lethal removal, including culling and hunting. Members raised extensive concerns, particularly about the absence of costed implementation plans, timelines and accountability; the continued exclusion of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), concessionaires and communities from the task team process; the scientific basis for the modelling; and the pace of community beneficiation. Members were strongly critical that the PETT report had still not been submitted to Parliament or released for public comment nine months after the Committee's oversight visit. The Committee had raised concerns about elephant overpopulation at Madikwe since 2024 and pleaded with the department to find a solution. The exclusion of the NSPCA, communities and concessionaires from the task team process was unacceptable and would be raised with the Ministry. The North West delegation was directed to submit written responses, including a clear date for release of the PETT report, by 1 September 2026. On Kirstenbosch, the SANBI Chief Executive Officer and the Head of Botanical Gardens told the Committee that SANBI's infrastructure grant had been cut from R180 million in 2024/25 to R40 million in 2025/26, leaving significant shortfalls for the Kirstenbosch Development Campaign. About 60% of the reduced budget was spent on maintenance, and a backlog of around R741 million was projected for 2027/28 across all national botanical gardens. Members questioned SANBI on the funding strategy for around R150 million in proposed new Kirstenbosch projects, the R70 million succulent poaching response strategy, and vacant specialist posts. Concerns were raised that several tourism and conservation initiatives described in the presentation, including the Kirstenbosch Plant Fair, the seed exchange programme and pest control support, were not operating as claimed. Questions were asked about the alleged draining of a ring-fenced conservation account and the vacant nursery manager post. SANBI said it operated on a 70:30 funding model between government and self-generated revenue, and was working with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and National Treasury on a new financing model, particularly for Kirstenbosch.