SAWS, SANParks, iSimangaliso WPA & SANBI APPs 2024/25 (with Minister & Deputy Minister)

Video The Committee met with four Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) entities, namely the IsiMangaliso Wetland Park Authority (ISPA), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the South African National Parks (SANParks), and the South African Weather Services (SAWS), to discuss their Annual Performance Plans (APP) and budget for the 2024-2025 financial year. In its presentation, SANParks informed the Committee that its budget for 2024-2025 is set to be R3.773 billion, with R940.7 million of that coming from grants and donations. This total amount represents an increase of 6% from the previous year. SANParks believes that all that revenue will be spent in this financial year, up 6% from the prior year. Presently, tourism contributes 74% of its revenue and will continue to be the core of SANParks’ goal of growing its revenue base. The Committee applauded SANParks for its ability to self-generate 74% of its revenue and called for other government entities to follow its lead, especially in the face of crippling budget cuts, which have seen a decrease in government grant allocations and low economic growth. Also, during its engagement with SANParks, the Committee asked about the black and white rhino populations in the national parks, why the target on the rhino horn data management system had not been included in the APP despite the high levels of rhino poaching, and where the five other rhino strongholds, besides the Kruger National Park, were situated. The Committee was left concerned by the negative impact of the budget cuts on the entities’ ability to conduct their work, particularly SAWS, which has a large infrastructure network that includes 11 radars, close to 1200 rain stations, and 200-odd automatic weather stations. The availability of its infrastructure plays a vital role in the accuracy of its forecasting and early warning systems to communities on severe weather patterns. To tackle this challenge, SAWS has since developed a revenue turnaround strategy, which centres around commercialising some of its products and services. Through this, it hopes to generate additional revenue to invest in its infrastructure, like its weather radars and other information communications technology, to improve the accuracy of its data. ISPA also informed the Committee that it is currently implementing its commercialisation strategy, which it believes will assist in reducing its alliance on grant funding from the government. Total revenue for 2024-2025 is set at R327 million, with internal park revenue set to increase to R28.5 million. 94% of the total revenue is obtained from a government grant, with internal park revenue contributing 2%. The Committee wondered how the ISPA’s planned expansion of the Wetland Park into Mozambique would contribute to the country’s 30/30 biodiversity goals and its conservation estate. In addition, they asked for greater clarity on the ISPA’s planned take-over of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife-managed facilities. During its presentation, SANBI told the Committee that it will have a total revenue of R1.095 billion, 70% of which will come from grant funding, while the remaining 30% will come from internal income generation. In this financial year, the entity aims to implement a transformation charter to achieve a socio-culturally diverse workforce, achieve financial sustainability, improve its ICT infrastructure for better business efficiency, and obtain a clean audit. The Committee asked how SANBI’s relationships with other government departments and agencies were healthy. It further questioned how the recent developments of removing free access to botanical gardens had impacted the entity’s revenue and if it was concerned about what effect this would have on its revenue going forward. Towards the end of the engagement, the Committee Chairperson assured Members that they would attend a workshop with the department to gain more insight into the entities' states and activities. The Committee is set to meet the following evening to adopt its budget vote report.