Strong relationships with Traditional Authorities and neighbouring communities are an important part of conservation across the Greater Kruger landscape. These relationships create opportunities to share information, better understand community priorities and build the trust needed to work together on issues that affect both people and protected areas.
On 1 August, GKEPF joined approximately 3,000 people at UMMEMO Inkosi MI Mdhluli, a community gathering hosted at the Mdhluli Traditional Council in Makoko. The event brought together Traditional Authorities, community members, government departments and conservation partners for a day that celebrated culture, community and collaboration.
Traditional dance, food and local enterprises formed part of the programme, with community members also having the opportunity to sell traditional crafts. Alongside these celebrations, the gathering provided a valuable platform for organisations and community leadership to connect and share messages with a large and diverse audience.
GKEPF participated alongside Kruger National Park, Ligwalagwala FM, the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the South African Police Service (SAPS), Eskom and representatives from the Departments of Health, Education, and Safety and Security. Traditional leaders attending the event included Kgoshi Mathupa Lameck Mokoena, President of CONTRALESA; Inkosi SM Ngomane Lugedhlane; and Prince Dhlamini from the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The participation of GKEPF and Kruger National Park was welcomed by traditional leadership during the day’s proceedings. Kgoshi Mokoena acknowledged the importance of organisations supporting and engaging with Traditional Authorities, while keynote speaker Inkosi MI Mdhluli expressed the hope that the engagement would mark the beginning of an even stronger relationship for the benefit of communities.
For GKEPF, opportunities such as UMMEMO are an important part of maintaining relationships with Traditional Authorities along the western boundary of the Greater Kruger. Conservation does not stop at the boundary of a protected area, and lasting progress depends on communities, conservation organisations, government and traditional leadership having opportunities to engage with one another.
The event forms part of GKEPF’s Prosper Programme and supports ongoing work around community engagement and human-wildlife coexistence. By participating in community platforms that already bring people together, GKEPF can listen, share information and continue building the relationships that underpin long-term conservation across the landscape.
