The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) appointed the DBSA in November 2017 to support the repairs and refurbishment of nature reserves managed by the Department. This agreement was part of the overall agreement that the DBSA has signed with the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (LDPWR&I) to serve as its implementing agent since 2014.
Scope of work
- Planning and designing of the infrastructure and facilities within provincial parks and nature reserves, including undertaking infrastructure condition assessments of 43 sites
- Construction of the infrastructure and facilities within provincial parks and nature reserves
- Refurbishment, upgrade as well as the operation and maintenance of existing infrastructure and facilities within provincial parks and nature reserves
- Capacity building for the LEDET and LDPWR&I’s technical staff to enable the province to manage its provincial park infrastructure and facilities programme in the long term.
The programme is aligned to National Development Objectives that are reflected within the NDP’s Chapter 3 (Economy and Employment), Chapter 4 (Economic Infrastructure), Chapter 5 (Environmental Sustainability and Resilience) and Chapter 6 (Inclusive Rural Economy), the New Growth Path Framework and the National Tourism Sector Strategy.
It also responds directly to Outcomes 4, 6 and 7 of the 2014–2019 Medium-Term Strategic Framework, and is aimed at supporting the province in giving effect to the Limpopo Development Plan (2014–2019), the LEDET Strategic Plan as well as the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of all the five district municipalities within the province.
The overall programme had a budget of R89 million and commenced in March 2018. Maintenance in three nature reserves has been completed and work in a further seven parks was completed in May 2019. Furthermore, final reports and the feasibility study on market stalls as well as condition assessments were also handed over to the client. All this work culminated in creating 216 job opportunities during construction.
