The Bateleur
Private Bag X3015, Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0)15 793 7300
Fax: +27 (0)15 7937314
e-mail: [email protected]
www.wildlifecollege.org.za
February 20 1 6, Issue 1
2015 ROUND UP
EDUCATION, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT ARE KEY IF CONSERVATION IN AFRICA IS TO SUCCEED
At the close of the 2015 academic year, the
Southern African Wildlife College’s (SAWC)
Wildlife Area Management students were
once again recognized for their achievements.
The Higher Education and Training (HET), who
came from nine countries including Congo
Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe
and Zambia, celebrated their graduation in a
ceremony that honoured their dedication and
commitment to conservation and their studies.
Following the welcome by the SAWC CEO,
Mrs. Theresa Sowry the students were addressed by Mrs. Annelize Steyn, Head of Academic Compliance and Quality Management;
Guest Speaker Professor Bimo Nkhata, Director and Associate Professor of the Water Research Node at Monash University South Africa together with Mr. Nathaniel Simayumbula
the President of the Student Representative
Council (SRC). Professor Nkhata, who is one
of the alumni of the first Wildlife Area Management Programmes offered at the SAWC
in 1998, highlighted how education is vital to
achieving success.
“I am without doubt a living testimony to the
value and power of education that enables us
to build our futures to progress and become
leaders in organizations, communities, business or government and in the field of conservation. I also want to emphasize to the new
graduates that graduation is but one amongst
the many steps you will have to take in life.
Having faced various difficulties myself, I want
to assure you that the road is not easy. Your
future will be both exciting and trying, but ultimately success will depend on your determination and commitment to this noble cause,”
said Professor Nkhata.
Mrs. Steyn cemented the notion of how education holds power as she highlighted the importance that the graduates held within the
conservation and tourism industry. “Conservation is a dynamic field and to stay current
and relevant, the College continuously innovates and adapts its training to reflect these
changing needs. In so doing, it continues to
play a pivotal role in equipping a new generation of conservation managers with the skills
needed to deal with the local challenges each
country in the region faces. Conservation in
Africa is changing. We, as Africans, need to
take responsibility; we need African solutions
for African problems. By continuing with the
education of future conservators and managers, we have taken up this responsibility, and
strive to ensure not only the quality of training but the quality of students going back to
their workplaces,” she added.
Malcolm Douglas, Wildlife Area Management Qualification Programme Manager (front centre) and Annelize Steyn, Head: Academic Compliance and Quality
Management (front centre) are pictured with the Higher Certificate graduates: Nature Conservation: Conservation Implementation and Leadership (above) and
with the Advanced Certificate graduates: Nature Conservation: Trans-frontier Conservation Management (below).
Mr Simayumbula echoed these sentiments.
“There is no doubt Africa’s natural resources
need to be protected and conserved.” He also
acknowledged the people that make everything possible. “I would like to strongly recognise and express our appreciation for the role
played by the College’s donors and our sponsors. We thank you for your kind-hearted financial support, which has accorded most of
us with the tremendous privilege of studying at this institution. What you have given
us is more than a donation; it is a chance to
improve our future, our families and the future of conservation. Rather than just being
grateful for the opportunity and funding, we
promise to use the knowledge we have gained
to redefine our roles in the management of
Africa’s natural resources,” he added.
During the graduation ceremony, five students were awarded for their outstanding
achievements and hard work during the year.
The awards went to Justice Mafumba - Best Financial Management Student, Francis Chitsa Best Animal Studies Student, Lovison Ncube
- Hans Hoheisen Award for the Best Protected
Area Management Student, all of whom are
from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management; Maybin Mwansa from Zambia Wildlife
Authority - Rosie Sturgis Award for the Most
Improved Student and to Dirk Pienaar from
Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, Kgalagadi TFCA
- WWF South Africa Award for the Most Outstanding South African Student.
The top two Distell Foundation Awards for
Best Student Overall were awarded to Fran-
cis Chitsa from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife
Management - Higher Certificate in Nature
Conservation and Leadership (Cum Laude)
and Justice Mafumba from Zimbabwe Parks
and Wildlife Management - Advanced Certificate in Trans-frontier Conservation Management (Cum Laude).
The much-anticipated Southern African Wildlife College Trust (SAWCT) scholarship awards
went to three students from the Higher Certificate class namely Francis Chitsa (Zimbabwe),
Dirk Pienaar (South Africa), and Sambiana
Limbani (Zambia). The scholarships awarded
will enable these students to continue their
studies at the SAWC where they will complete
the Advanced Certificate programme in Transfrontier Conservation Management.
(Bottom) Guest Speaker Professor Bimo Nkhata, Director and Associate Professor
of the Water Research Node at Monash University South Africa. Professor Nkhata,
is one of the alumni of the first Wildlife Area Management Programmes offered at
the SAWC in 1998. He remembered his time at the College fondly and was happy to
see some familiar faces such as Clive Poultney and Ruben de Kock who are still involved with this learning institution that provided him with the platform to launch
his career. He reminded students that education and achievements don’t come
without hard work and many struggles along the way saying that perseverance and
commitment are prerequisites if one wants to succeed.
(Top) During the graduation ceremony, five students were awarded for their outstanding achievements and hard work during the year. Pictured are from left: Justice Mafumba - Best Financial Management Student and Best Student Overall in
the Advanced Certificate in Trans-frontier Conservation Management (Cum Laude),
Francis Chitsa - Best Animal Studies Student and Best Student Overall in the Higher
Certificate in Nature Conservation Implementation and Leadership (Cum Laude)
and Lovison Ncube (far right) - Hans Hoheisen Award for the Best Protected Area
Management Student, all of whom are from Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management. Maybin Mwansa from Zambia Wildlife Authority was awarded the Rosie
Sturgis Award for the Most Improved Student. (Absent from photograph) - Dirk
Pienaar from Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park, Kgalagadi TFCA who was awarded the
WWF South Africa Award for the Most Outstanding South African Student.
DONORS PROVIDE THE MATCHED FUNDING REQUIREMENT FOR JOBS FUND PROJECT AIMED AT TRAINING
AND PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR 256 LEARNERS
2015 ended on a high note with our donors once again providing their muchvalued support across various training programmes.
Stichting Dioraphte, based in the Netherlands (under which the Liberty Wildlife Foundation has been incorporated), provided the majority of the matched
funding requirement for the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund 4 Project. This project will see 256 unemployed people trained and employed over a two-year period (2015 and 2016).
Stichting Dioraphte, who has over the past five years provided much-needed
support to our field ranger training and aerial patrol anti-poaching unit, funded
75 of the 137 Jobs Fund 4 learners in 2015 and will again sponsor 75 students
in 2016.
The project, which is aimed at training, providing workplace exposure and finding employment for these previously unemployed learners will close out in February 2017. The leaners will complete a National Certificate: Nature Conservation: Resource Guardianship as part of the programme; with 10 female learners
completing the Dangerous Animal, Site Guide NQF Level 2 qualification. They
will then be placed with partner conservation organisations and in communityowned reserves to fulfill the role of wildlife guardians and field guides.
Our sincere gratitude is extended to Stichting Dioraphte who has assisted the
College in ensuring that the matched-funding requirement has been met. Other
valued donors to Year 1 of the project include Tusk Trust, Friends of African
Wildlife, My School MyPlanet Rhino Fund, Timbavati Private Nature Reserve/
Foundation and Scott Dunn (via Tusk Trust). United for Wildlife supported by
the Royal Foundation have come on board for Year 2 of the project and will
fund 25 learners.
DONORS ENABLE WILDLIFE AREA MANAGEMENT STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES
Each year the College faces the
daunting task of raising funds for
its 50 flagship Wildlife Area Management Qualification students
who will complete the Higher
Certificate in Nature Conservation: Conservation Implementation and Leadership and the
Advanced Programme in Nature
Conservation: Trans- frontier
Conservation Management.
These students hail from various
conservation organisations from
across the SADC region and beyond with the aim of completing
the College’s Higher Education
and Training programmes. The
modules and qualification programmes completed will not only
enable them to meet the conservation challenges they face on a
daily basis but will also enable
them to advance in their chosen
careers.
with fauna and flora on a sustainable basis. The course has also
helped develop my knowledge,
skills and attitude in wildlife management in line with my career
aspirations, commented Mukwa
Sikwana, Luangwa Management
Services, Namibia.
With the assistance of Peace
Parks Foundation via its donor
base, 35% of the students’ fees
are subsidized via a grant from
the MAVA Fondation Pour La Nature with the balance being made
up through bursary funding and
a contribution by the individual
and/or their organisations.
Many of the bursary funding
donors have remained committed over the years and here our
sincere thanks must be extended
to SAWCT (The Southern African
Wildlife College Trust) who supports three scholarships and two
bursaries each year, KfW Stichtung who, via PPF, supports the
training of female students from
the KAZA region each year, Safari
Club International Foundation,
Friends of African Wildlife who
through their Swiss-based donors
support a number of students
each year and Afrisam who have
over a number of years supported South African based students.
Thanks must also be extended to
our many individual donors who
support the Wildlife Area Management students through our
Learner Legacy Adopt-a-Student
programme. Last year these donors included Durcesio Mello,
Fanja and Sommer Pon, Prof and
Eveline Dietz van Riet via the
Transboundary Foundation.
To those donors such as the Distell Foundation, Buco and the
Late Mrs Lahann who have supported our Wildlife Area Management student graduation, we
also extend our sincere thanks.
“Over the years the Southern African Wildlife College has established a good reputation, which
in turn, has made the expansion
of the scope of training offered
possible to meet the diversified
needs of the industry in nature
conservation. In addition I believe the College has the capacity to impart the knowledge and
competencies required to influence the understanding of community benefit from the wildlife
economy and from the sustainable use of natural resources as
well as from tourism initiatives
that include the rehabilitation
and sustainability of protected
areas in the country.
This course has provided me with
hands-on experience to become
both competent and motivated
allowing me to manage and conserve our protected areas gifted
Afrisam’s Mathapelo Sehloho pictured with the company’s 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility bursary recipients,
Jacob Mdlovu and Amanda Xotongo
NEWS FROM SAWCT
In 2015 the Southern African Wildlife College Trust (SAWCT) enjoyed an administratively intensive year which culminated in attending the graduation of the Higher Education and Training, Wildlife Area Management students early in December. The visit included the student dinner and
hearing first-hand from our extremely grateful and successful scholarship and bursary recipients, as well as a tour of the impressive new Phase
11 developments at the College. We urge you, our passionate conservation supporters, to take the opportunity to attend this annual event and
experience for yourselves the incredible work being done at the College, made possible only with your support!
The year came to a close, with us sending out our annual postcards of thanks to you, our valued donors. Should you not be receiving our communications, please contact the Trust’s Fundraiser, Janet Wakelin, via email [email protected]. Tax certificates will be sent to our
individual donors after the tax year end, at the end of February 2016.
With over R300 000 raised to date in the current financial year, we would like to express our most sincere thanks and acknowledge the ongoing
and generous support of these donors in 2015:
Allan & Gill Gray Charitable Trust
Ambassador Cabras and Mrs Cabras
Countess Labia
David Graaff Foundation
Dr Frank Raimondo
Dr Surandar Singh
Dr Ton Vosloo
Investec
Lady Sergeant
Mr Christopher Emery
Mr Edward Saunders
Mr EPH Bieber
Mr Graham Viney
Mr Ian Lomberg
Mr Natale Labia
Mrs Angela Lloyd
Mrs Carolyn Prades
Mrs DHH Stewart
Mrs Lorna Ramsden
Mrs Margot Gawith
Mrs Rosemary Miller
Mrs Ruth Allen
Nedbank Private Wealth
Ovland Group (Pty) Ltd
Sir Raymond Johnstone
The Ackerman Family Educational
Trust
The Shill Trust
In 2016 we aim to take fundraising in support of conservation to new heights to help address the ever increasing challenges faced by this sector.
We also look forward to connecting with you our valued supporters during our annual campaign, as well as meeting with our Cape Town based
supporters at our next donor event taking place later this year!
The 2015 SAWCT scholarship and bursary recipients: From Left: Salome October - Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency, O’Brian Hamoonga - Zambia Wildlife Authority,
Justice Mafumba - Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, Kwaleyela Mayunda - Zambia Wildlife Authority and Prisca Chirozva - Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority. Salome, Justice and Chirozva were the top performers in 2014 and were awarded SAWCT
scholarships to continue their studies in Nature Conservation at the Advanced Level.
O-Brian and Kwaleyela were the recipients of SAWCT’s Higher Certificate bursaries in
2015.
The 2015 SAWCT scholarship students, Justice Mafumba - Ghonarezhou National Park Zimbawe, Salome October - Formosa Nature
Reserve South Africa, and Prisca Chirozva - Lake Kariba Zimbabwe,
celebrate their graduation from the Advanced Certificate in Nature
Conservation: Transfrontier Conservation Management.
Lesley Richardson (left) Chairperson of the Southern African Wildlife Trust (SAWCT) together with Countess Sylvia Labia, Founder Trustee presented the muchanticipated SAWCT scholarship awards. The deserving recipients were Francis Chitsa (left) – Zimbabwe, and Sambiana Limbani. - Zambia (Absent from photograph - Dirk Pienaar from South Africa, the third recipient of the SAWCT scholarship awards.)
THE SAWC IS AWARDED SIGNIFICANT GRANT VIA UNITED FOR WILDLIFE SUPPORTED
BY THE ROYAL FOUNDATION OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE AND PRINCE
HARRY
Following the visit of HRH Prince
Harry to the Southern African Wildlife College in December 2015, the
College was delighted to hear that a
grant of £370,000 had been awarded
towards strengthening capacity and
increasing training opportunities.
During his visit Prince Harry met with
both the field ranger training students and the graduands of the Wildlife Area Management Qualification
Programmes. In a speech delivered
to the students, he expressed his love
for Africa and concern for its wildlife.
In support of this he announced that
funding would be made available
to help protect some of the World’s
most endangered species via capacity building.
“The grant, which has been awarded
to the College via United for Wildlife
through the support of the Royal
Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry,
will provide funding over a two-year
period – 2016 and 2017,” said Naomi
Doak, Project Director, United for
Wildlife.
The primary areas of support will include:
A contribution towards the costs of
training and workplace exposure of
wildlife guardians as part of the National Treasury’s, Jobs Fund Project,
now in its second year, which will
help to ensure that 257 unemployed
people from communities receive
the necessary training and employment opportunities whilst obtaining
a National Certificate: Nature Conservation: Resource Guardianship.
SMART Development and Training
which is aimed at combining the use
of software and training with the
emphasis being on capacity building
and best practices which will provide
local protected area and wildlife authorities and community groups the
ability to empower staff, boost motivation, increase efficiency and promote credible and transparent monitoring of the effectiveness of various
wildlife area management efforts in
particular the anti-poaching efforts.
It is envisaged that ongoing and expanding collaboration by a diverse
community of users will help develop
a suite of software tools that can be
used to capture, manage and analyse
various kinds of spatial data critical to
the effective management and monitoring of conservation areas.
Supporting Community based natural
Resource Management (CBNRM) in
Mozambique: The Southern African
Wildlife College’s vision and mission
aims to help empower local communities to manage and conserve their
natural resources, whilst promoting
socio-economic development. By
working with the local communities,
using a learning-by-doing approach,
a CBNRM plan can be developed that
is aligned with each community’s
unique circumstances. This plan will then empower communities in the decision making
process when it comes to their natural resources in order to achieve
maximum, sustainable benefit to all
stakeholders. This in turn will help
promote the sustainable sharing of
natural resources, help build good
capacity for the management of
wildlife whilst ensuring beneficiation
using a participatory approach.
Providing the funding for a regional
school-leaver conservation and environmental education bridging programme in the SADC region. This is
a six-month programme, currently
open to South African students from
historically disadvanted communities
which focuses on building leadership
skills, introducing the learner to various aspects of conservation including field ranging and environmental
education.
Finally, the funding received will also
assist in supporting the College’s
Wildlife Area Management training
programme. These Higher Education and Training programmes are
aimed at up-skilling people potential managers from across the SADC
region and beyond who are already
employed in the field of conservation
and who are tasked with meeting the
challenges facing conservation today.
Commenting on the grant made by
United For Wildlife supported by
the Royal Foundation, Theresa Sowry, CEO of the College said, “Since
its establishment in 1996, the College has trained over 14,000 people
from across the region. This funding will provide the necessary monetary injection to help us ensure that
our learners are not only properly
trained but that they are getting the
most up-to-date training and equipment needed. The conservation of
Africa’s natural resources including
its wildlife is facing a number of challenges on so many different levels
and we need to ensure that people in
the field and within the communities
surrounding wildlife areas are able
to meet those challenges. As such,
we are truly grateful for the help extended.”
HRH Prince Harry during his visit to the Southern African Wildlife
College
On arrival from the Kruger National Park, HRH Prince Harry is met
by Ruben de Kock, Protected Area Integrity Business Unit Manager
and Theresa Sowry SAWC CEO
Interacting with learners from the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund
4 Project
Meeting the Wildlife Area Management students before their graduation.
Chatting to the Trustees and Fundraiser of the Southern African
Wildlife College Trust (from left) Lesley Richardson, Countess Sylvia
Labia, Charles de Villiers and Janet Wakelin.
HRH Prince Harry pictured with SAWC CEO, Theresa Sowry and
Head Marketing and Fundraising, Jeanné Poultney at the commemorative stone, which marks the inauguration of the College
during his HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit in 1995.
THE COLLEGE’S AMBASSADOR NETWORK
Over the years, the College’s donor community have offered there help not only financially
but have shown a willingness to really get involved whilst also introducing other people to
this “amazing training institution”.
The Ambassador Campaign to all intents and
purposes kicked off when the College’s German associate, Charly Gräff first sponsored
a student and then has over the years introduced people to the College. This extended
hand of friendship has seen a number of individuals coming to the College who have
also now sponsored students or assisted the
College. Amongst them are Ferninand Gräff,
Christoph and Bettina Weber (Zürich) and
Durcèsio Mello (Brazil).
Born out of the visit by Christoph and Bettina
Weber to the College and the many meeting
held in Zurich Switzerland, is Friends of African Wildlife. This Swiss-based Foundation
has since its inception in 2013 worked tirelessly to help raise substantial funds for the
College via its donor base. Friends of African
Wildlife has sponsored students across various programmes including the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund (matched funding requirement for field ranger training), Wildlife Area
Management Qualifications, Specialized Anti
Poaching training as part of their Save A Rhino
campaign, the Youth Access Conservation and
Environmental Education Bridging course together with support for the Bathawk project
and aerial patrols. Their slogan “Be a part of
it” has engendered support from people who
are passionate about wildlife and the training
of its guardians and has also led to volunteers
coming to the College with their families helping to sponsor a student.
Other College ambassadors include:
Lee-Anne Davis, who is based at &Beyond’s
Ngala Tented Camp and works tirelessly to
help protect Africa’s rhinos as part of her “Our
Horn is Not Medicine Campaign”. She has influenced many individual donations to support the College’s anti poaching training efforts including the Wildlife Guardian, Bathawk
and K-9 anti poaching projects.
Matthew Lindenberg who apart from giving of
his time to the College to help train field rangers, has whilst completing his Masters degree,
established Global Conservation Corps in
Michigan in the USA. This non-profit organization is aimed at conserving Africa’s wildlife
and biodiversity through training, upliftment
and capacity building in protected areas and
communities. As the founder and president
of this organisation, he is driving a campaign
called “Rhino Man” to raise funds via a song
and documentary, together with various
events, to support the College and the men
and women protecting this threatened species.
Ossi Köchli (Robertson) (Zürich) who produced a video on rhino poaching following a
visit to the College to help promote the cause
together with Friends of African Wildlife in
Zürich. In turn, he and his wife Lea supported
a rhino notching exercise in the Greater Kruger National Park.
Edith and Michel Walhof (Netherlands), introduced to the College by PPF board member
Dr John Loudon, kindly provided urgent assistance with the Bathawk engine, which needed to be replaced, and have also supported
the training of field rangers in specialist anti
poaching skills. More recently, following a
Durcésio Mello - Brazil (far left) and Charly Gräff - Germany (far right) with Theresa Sowry
(right) and Jeanné Poultney
Matt Lindenberg - USA - pictured with a ranger from SANParks is
supporting the College through his Rhino Man Project
visit to the College, they have provided support to the College’s aerial patrols and K-9 anti
poaching unit.
Thanks to well-known wildlife artist, Mark
Middleton’s love of nature and his concern
over the growing number of rhino being
poached, he and his wife Lee organized a fundraising event in Michigan in the USA, which
was generously hosted by Kathryn Kircher
at KLK Art Gallery. The SAWC’s CEO Theresa
Sowry and Bruce McDonald the Bathawk pilot
attended the event to help raise funds for the
College’s Wildlife Guardian Programme.
Wanda Leschinksy who is based in China also
campaigned for the College’s rhino protection
programmes as part of her 40th birthday celebrations by highlighting the plight of rhino
on her Facebook page and seeking donations
in lieu of birthday gifts. A very nice gesture on
her part and one which we would encourage.
It would also be remiss of us not to mention
SAWCT in this line up. Countess Sylvia Labia,
founder Trustee, Lesley Richardson, Chairperson and Ian Goodwin Vice Chair have over the
years promoted the College’s capital trust to
ensure income for the College in perpetuity.
True ambassadors of the cause!
The idea behind developing the Ambassador
Campaign, which is now gaining great momentum, is to establish a global network of
“Friends of the College” who are passionate
about saving Africa’s wildlife via the training
of its wildlife guardians. We look forward to
telling you more about this campaign in the
near future.
Christoph and Bettina Weber - Zürich Switzerland
- founders of Friends of African Wildlife
Edith Walhof - Netherlands - pictured at the SAWC’s K-9 Anti
Poaching Unit
APPOINTMENTS
JOHAN VAN STRAATEN
The College recently appointed Johan van Straaten, who hails from Middelburg in the Eastern Cape, as Dog Master of the newly established anti poaching K-9 Anti Poaching Unit.
Johan has a wealth of experience in dog training and handling in various disciplines such as patrol dogs, tracker
dogs, narcotic dogs, explosive dogs, sheep dogs and security dogs to his credit. In turn, his experience also includes dog obedience, dog security work and the socialization of dogs with further experience in dog behavior.
His training in dog behavior kicked off in 2007 when he graduated Cum Laude from the programme run by Prof
Odendaal. He then went on to complete an Advanced Dog Behavior Course with Dr JM Slabbert in 2008, also
graduating Cum Laude. In 2009 he attended two Dog Handler courses, both times being awarded the top position
in each course. More recently he completed a man-tracking course as part of his anti poaching training.
He also brings experience in the provision of equipment and the building of facilities having worked with and
trained members of the South African Police Services’ (SAPS) Dog Unit and Correctional Services. In addition
he has also helped train dogs in de-mining, snake detection and proofing whilst also providing training courses,
refresher courses, evaluation as well as helicopter training for dogs and handlers across a number of different
wildlife reserves both in South Africa and in Swaziland.
We wish Johan every success and welcome him to the College’s Protected Area Integrity Unit.
RADINKU ARON LEKOLOANE
FORTUNATE MATHONSI
Aron has been appointed as the
Resource Centre Intern. He graduated from the University of Limpopo with a Bachelor of Information Studies.
Fortunate has been appointed as
the Coordinator for the Wildlife
Area Management Qualifications
department.
In 2008 she studied for a Certificate
in Small Accommodation Establishment Operations at the SA College
for Tourism and joined the College
after she graduated. The skills she
acquired at the SA College for Tourism paved the way for her because,
ever since joining the SAWC, she
has worked in different departments including Reception, the
Programmes Department and the
AFRTS Field Ranger Training Division. She is currently studying for
a Bachelor of Social Work Degree
majoring in Psychology with the
University of South Africa.
He has served as a Volunteer
Library Assistant at the University of Limpopo Library, Tembisa
Library and Boksburg Library respectively during his academic
years and was also a Computer
Lab Assistant at the University of
Limpopo’s ICT Division.
One of his long term goals is to
become a law graduate. He is passionate about life and education
and enjoys football in his spare
time.
Phumudzo RAMASUVHA
Phumu has been appointed as an intern to Jeanné Poultney, the College’s Head: Marketing and Fundraising. She will
operate out of partner organization, River End Consultants’ office in Johannesburg and will assist across both the
Marketing and Fundraising functions, which also includes Media Relations.
Phumu graduated from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) with a National Diploma International Communications having majored in International Relations, Communications Science, Public Relations and Media Studies.
She also holds a Certificate in Communications and Marketing from TUT.
A big welcome to Phumu, who we are sure, will provide much-needed support across these portfolios.
Nomawethu Audrey Zenzile
Noma is the new Tutor intern. She will be giving English and Numeracy literacy classes. She graduated from Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan University with a BA degree in Psychology and Anthropology.
Her passion lies with working with the community. She started a project in Port Elizabeth tutoring community kids and
later expanded it to reach those kids who need special attention with regards to their studies. The programme was
adopted and incorporated by a local school that she attended. They partnered up with the Opera House who helps
them in grooming the talents the kids have. The project is still running and is supported by SASSA.
She has worked as an English tutor, tutoring students from various countries including China, Russia, Brazil, South
Korea.
Her experience in working with different students has made her take more interest in pursuing studies in culture and
human behaviour. She has also worked on a voluntary basis as a student advisor at a local school.
She likes reading, long walks on the beach and watching sport.
The Community Based Natural Resource Management Unit in the Wildlife Area
Management Department
The College will soon be bidding farewell to Mr Rodgers Lubilo who will be vacating his position as manager of the CBNRM unit of the Southern
African Wildlife College. This is however not the end of his relationship with the College as we will always see him as very much part of the CBNRM
unit as we move forward. He will also now form part of our advisory team. During Rodgers’ time with the College, he has led the CBNRM team in
supporting the CBNRM project sites of Mangalana (Mozambique), Somkhanda (KZN), and Makuleke (Limpopo). “Leaving the CBNRM Unit and SAWC
has not been an easy decision” he said. “I am sad that I will be leaving behind so many friends that have taught me great life lessons, laughed with
me and above all else has been the best team I have ever worked with” he adds. Rodgers will be missed as we have learnt a lot from him, but exciting opportunities and challenges await him.
The College would like to take this opportunity to formally wish Rodgers well in his future position in Zambia and we look forward to keeping in touch
and sharing developments.
The CBNRM unit continues to receive much-needed support from the Wildlands Conservation Trust in running the Somkhanda project for the year
of 2016. Linda Hlengwa as the CBNRM Field Facilitator will be based at Somkhanda, KZN this year, and will be operating from there. This year our
focus will be on the integration and good governance of the Emvokweni Community Trust.
In Mozambique, work continues with the Mangalana community and Sabie Game Park. The community scouts are working well and have made
significant contributions to the safety of both communities. Work in this area is now focusing on the accountable distribution of funds obtained from
hunts on Sabie Game Park to the various villages and the processes required for this.
COMMUNITY, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & ACCESS DEPARTMENT
JF4/1004: A MILESTONE WORTH THE WAIT: UNLOCKING COMMUNITY BENEFITS THROUGH CONSERVATION
Year 1 of the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund Project closes out in February 2016. This follows twelve months of intensive theory and workplace sessions at the SAWC, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s Midmar training Centre, and the Wildlands Conservation Trust managed Somkhanda Game Reserve.
The learners were placed in 18 different Nature Reserves in the Limpopo Province and two Nature Reserves in KZN for their workplace sessions.
At their graduation, 126 of the unemployed learners now trained, will be awarded an NQF Level 2 National Certificate: Resource Guardianship
which will qualify them as Field Rangers. The remaining 10 learners will qualify at NQF Level 2 as Dangerous Game Site Guides. All 136 learners
who have completed the programme are to be placed and employed in various reserves within Limpopo and two community-owned reserves in
KZN, i.e. Somkhanda and Mayibuye Game Reserves.
The passing out parade took place at the SAWC’s Ranger’s camp on 15 February 2016 and on 16-17 February 2016 for KZN based learners in their
respective training centres.
Our sincere thanks is extended to the Jobs Fund for supporting this inititaive and to the donors who assisted us in providing the matched funding requirement. We wish each and every one of these students success and welcome them to the conservation sector where we hope they will
make us and their employers proud.
As part of workplace training, learners had to perform basic domestic infrastructural maintenance in a conservation area.
PROTECTED AREA INTEGRITY FIELD RANGER TRAINING SERVICES DIVISON
The SAWC’s African Field
Ranger Training Services
Division has been busy with
the completion of Peace
Parks Foundation’s training for the Kruger National
Park having completed the
Patrol Leaders, Musketry
and Tracking training. The
current training interventions
are focussed on First Aid and
nearly half the Field Rangers
in the Kruger National Park
will be trained in the process.
These training interventions
have serviced nearly 600
Field Rangers in the Kruger
National Park including all
the disciplines that were
presented.
The EMI training for SANParks was also concluded and
a total of 700 Field Rangers
from SANParks were trained.
This includes the training that
took place in all the SANParks
Reserves and Parks across
the country and in the Kruger
National Park. Nelie de Kock
and Lucious Sebake carried
out this task and acquitted
themselves brilliantly in the
process. The continuation of
EMI training is planned and
there are bound to be more
successes in this regard.
The Bathawk has proved its
value over and over in the
past quarter. The inclusion
of ground to air training in
all Field Ranger and related
training has enabled the
Private Reserves and the
Kruger National Park Field
Rangers to effectively apply
aerial operations in the follow up process. The Bathawk
has continued to serve the
Anti-Poaching Units in the
immediate area and Kruger
National Park well.
The latest addition to the
Southern African Wildlife
College and African Field
Ranger Training Services
Division is the Dog Unit. Currently known as the K-9 Anti
Poaching Unit and headed by
Johan van Straaten, the Unit
consists of 22 dogs including
Beagles, Blue Tics and Fox
hounds. The Unit is based
at the Field Ranger Base and
currently comprises three
members. Johan, as mentioned, Wisdom Makhubele,
and Francois Nel. Wisdom is
a product of the Jobs Fund
training 2014/2015 class, and
has taken to the position of
Kennel Master like a duck to
water! He is currently being
trained as a Dog Trainer as
well as a Dog Handler. Francois comes with Dog training
as part of his background and
it is envisaged that he will
also become a Dog Master
and Dog Handler Trainer.
Johan has proven to be a
great asset in this process
as the development of the
dogs has increased exponentially since his inclusion in
the K-9 Unit. The Unit was
founded by Richard Sowry
and Terry Rubenstein at Kingfisherspruit. This preparatory
process was conducted over
a year and has already produced successes in double
figures against poachers in
the area. This entire process
was supported by the Kruger
National Park and the Honorary Rangers.
The K-9 Anti Poaching Unit,
primarily sponsored by the
WWF Nedbank Green Trust,
will be providing trained dogs
and handlers to the local and
SADC Anti-Poaching community.
Pictured at the newly established K-9 Anti Poaching Unit are from left: Terry Rubenstein, Johan van Straaten, Wisdom Makhubele and Francois Nel.
Sustainable Use and Field Guiding
Resplendent in their dark green uniforms, shiny
boots and smart Kruger National Park epaulettes,
the ten Sustainable Use and Field Guiding business
unit’s “Trails Ladies” returned to the SAWC when it
opened in early January 2016. After the successful
completion, at the end of August last year, of their
three month, NQF Level 2 Dangerous Game Site
Guide course the ladies went on to spend the next
four months on workplace assignment at various
rest camps within the Kruger National Park.
In the south of the park, Octavia Mathebula was
assigned to Orpen Gate, Nontokozo Mnisi to Satara,
Pelsy Nkuna to Pretoriuskop, Khomotso Mokoena
to Lower Sabi, while Dolphy Mathebula went to
Berg-en-Dal.
In the north, Minyikelo Mabhenhle was stationed
at Shingwedzi, Fiona Mkansi at Letaba, Tyani Mkhabela at Mopani while both Moyahabo Sekgobela
and Promise Ngobeni were stationed at Olifants.
During the oppressive heat of November, those
in the south were visited by Senior Departmental
Trainer Pieter Nel, while Business Unit Manager
Kevin Robertson visited those in the north. Their
respective mentors were interviewed and all sang
the ‘Trails Ladies’ praises. Their work ethic, level
of newly-acquired knowledge and neatness were
unanimously complemented but it seems it was
their performances on the shooting range which
impressed their mentors the most. To her delight,
Khomotso Mokoena outshot all her male KNP Trail
Guide counterparts – so well done to you Khomotso!
The secret to the ‘Trails Ladies’ impressive shooting performances lies in the training they have been put through with their ‘pipes’. The same weight as a big
bore rifle, these pipes are used to develop the muscle memory so necessary for a flawless ‘gun mount’. Just as an ‘ease and grace’ golf swing is essential to
becoming a accomplished golfer, so is a smooth and thoroughly ‘practiced’ gun mount essential for shooting well in ‘save your and your client’s life’ situations.
His Royal Highness, Prince Harry visited the College
in December 2015. As part of his rather hectic program, two of the Trails Ladies - Octavia Mathebula
and Nontokozo Mnisi were asked to interpret a sim-
ulated ‘spoor and sign’ garden that had been set up
for His Royal Highness. We are pleased to report
the ladies handled the situation extremely well and
it was refreshing to see how easily and confidently
these two ladies were able to share their knowledge with Prince Harry.
With Theresa Sowry and Ruben de Kock looking on, Octavia Mathebula and Nontokozo Mnisi interpret the ‘signs of the veld’. Impala and hyena spoor as well
as their droppings were identified and pointed out to HRH. The difference between white rhino and elephant dung was also explained in detail.
All ten of the Trails Ladies passed the NQF level 2
Dangerous Game Site Guide course well. Level 4 is
however a big step up. The level 4 course involves
delving deeper into the 21 chapters already covered in the Level 2 course. These chapters were –
Introduction To Guiding In A Natural Environment;
Creating A Guiding Experience; Firearms; Geology;
Astronomy; Weather and Climate; Ecology and
Ecozones; Taxonomy; Biomes; Botany and Grasses; Arthropods; Amphibians; Reptiles; Fish; Birds;
Mammals; Animal Behaviour; Conservation; Tracking; Animal Diseases and View Potentially Dangerous Animals.
Level 4 guides need to be both competent ‘in the
veld’ and on the shooting range. He or she also
needs to be confident in and around guests and
tourists. The art of communication and the ability to impart ones knowledge in a clear and concise manner is what sets a good guide above the
rest. Good guides have the ability to fuse the facts
from the many subjects they have been taught and
blend them all together to create for their clients,
an interesting and enjoyable wildlife or wilderness experience. It takes a good level of all-round
knowledge, practice, skill and acumen in the art of
communication to do so. To date, our greatest chal-
lenge has been in getting the ladies to talk easily
and confidently while out in the veld. The knowledge they have, with the skill to impart it, requires
techniques that need to be learned and practiced
– and it is for this reason the trainers are spending a lot of time on this aspect of the Trails Ladies
training. In a couple of weeks their time here at
the SAWC will be over. We wish them all well with
their final Level 4 assessments and their futures as
Trails Guides within the Kruger National Park. We
feel confident they’ll continue to make the SAWC
proud!
Gawie’s Field News
I have long ago given up on the idea of four seasons
in the Lowveld. We only have two, a cool dry season
and a wet hot season. This year however the wet
hot season has turned into just a hot season. In
January 2013 our average mid day temperature
ranged between the high 20°C and the lower 30°C.
The highest temperature recorded was 39°C and
we had 269mm of rain, with a seasonal total at
the end of January of 535mm. This past January
our average mid day temperature ranged between
the mid 30°C and the higher 30°C. The highest
temperature recorded was 41.2°C and we only had
31.6mm of rain with a seasonal total of 160.8mm.
To make matters worse the high temperatures
persisted for days on end. Usually the temperatures
will gradually build up and reach the high 30°C for
a day and then a thunderstorm will break the heat
for a week or two. This season the temperatures
have built up and built up, reaching the high 30°C
to 40°C and then staying like that for days on end.
Thunderstorms do build up but then just pass by,
perhaps reducing the temperature to the low 30°C
for a day or two, with the heat just building up
again. I have been working in this part of the world
for 16 years now and this is the first Summer that I
am finding the heat to be oppressive.
The drought is having an effect on the wildlife as well
and has caused a bit of excitement for the residents
of the College. The marula harvest is almost nonexistent this year. Other years, at this time of the
year, you will find an elephant under every marula
tree but this year there are no marulas to feed on. I
have only seen one breeding herd of elephant and
there are only a few bulls in the area.
One night one of these bulls found a clever way to
break through the College fence and had a feast
on the marulas in my garden. I have a big marula
tree and the outside tap is directly underneath it,
so the tree is getting a little more water than the
others. AS such, its fairly good harvest, attracted the
attention of the elephant. Fortunately the elephant
came in and out during the wee hours of the night
and only left evidence that he was there. We spent
an exciting early morning tracking the elephant’s
movements through the campus grounds and found
the spot at the fence where he went out again. The
fence was repaired and he hasn’t visited us again.
The same cannot be said for the resident baboon
troop who also come in and enjoy the abundant
marula harvest on campus, much to the frustration
of yours truly and a few of the other residents who
have their dustbins raided. A new fence is planned
in the near future and a few more baboon proof
features are added to the design. Hopefully that
will discourage them a little or at least make it a bit
more difficult for them to enter.
The most notable change in the training area is at
Hippo quarry. If you look at the pictures of Hippo
quarry taken at the end of January 2013 and
compare them to pictures taken just a few days
ago, the difference is very apparent. In 2013 there
were eight hippos that came and went. They did
not stay there all the time as there were a number
of smaller quarries and pans within easy walking
distance from Hippo quarry where they could go
and spend a day or two. Now there are 15 hippos
crammed in the remaining mud and water. The
ground is dry and the grass, where there still is
some, is parched and turning yellow, burnt to a
crisp in the unrelenting heat. Despite the hot and
dry conditions the animals in our training area still
remain in fair to good condition. A situation that
might take a turn for the worse if we do not receive
some good rains soon.
The dry conditions are however not all doom and
gloom. Natural dry cycles are an intricate part of
nature and should be seen as a way to renew itself.
The last 15 years we have experienced average to
above average rains in this region. This has resulted
in favourable conditions for the veld and the
herbivores that depend on it. Herbivore populations
bloomed with a high survival rate of young. The
exact opposite is true for predators. Pray animals
although numerous and in good condition, suffer as
the thick vegetation makes hunting more difficult.
The result is a high mortality rate in cubs and lower
immune resistance in adults.
Sightings of lion in particular have become less
frequent and often when they are encountered,
they are not in good condition. The cubs especially
seem to struggle. The harsh conditions of the
drought will cause a great number of the old and
weak herbivores to die, ensuring that only the fittest
survive. This then represents more abundance for
lions as food becomes more readily available, often
will very little energy needing to be expended.
This surplus of food will result in much higher cub
survival and a boom in the lion population can be
expected.
February 2013
February 2016
With Compliments
Southern African Wildlife College
Private Bag X3015, Hoedspruit, 1380, South Africa.
Tel: +27 (15) 793-7300
Fax: +27 (15) 793-7314
E-mail: [email protected]
www.wildlifecollege.org.za
Directors: Dr. I.B. Mkhize (Chairman), Mr. P.K. Bewsher, Mr. I. Goodwin, Countess. S. Labia, Mrs. L.M. Lynch,
Mr. O.E. Mokganedi, Mr. W. Myburgh, Dr. G. Raven, Prof. B.K. Reilly, Dr. B. Soto (Mozambique), Mrs. T. Sowry.