African Wildlife & Environment Issue 74

ECO-HERO

Early days – and the Mandela connection Smuts recalls that Dr Mabuza “could see the long- term necessity for setting aside land (that was) under pressure and that (since) he had the authority (he was able) to prevail on tribal leaders to cooperate with conservation initiatives proposed by the KaNgwane Parks Corporation under the leadership of Dr Jeremy Anderson.” WorkingwithDrAnderson,DrMabuzaconsolidated the Somginvelo Reserve – a perfect 57,000 ha tract of land just outside Barberton on the border of Swaziland. Songimvelo is home to the oldest known rocks and earliest single cellular life on the planet and as such has featured prominently in a recent BBC film on the origins of the Earth. According to Smuts “Enos

Dr Nelson Mandela was a lifelong friend with Dr Mabuza and so he accepted Dr Mabuza’s offer to holiday in Mthetomusha shortly after he was released from prison in August 1990- and again in March 1991 for a total of 30 days. The man who became the first president of a democratic South Africa had his first break here after 27 years’ incarceration and revelled in the opportunity to reconnect with nature and the African bush. Between Enos Mabuza and Jeremy Anderson they facilitated his desire to hunt and recall his childhood experiences of bringing home a piece of meat. Once again, Enos’s vision for conservation has proved sustainable, as this reserve is also today incorporated into SANParks Kruger National Park.

Dr Salomon Joubert (left), past Director of the Kruger National Park, Dr Enos Mabuza and Dr Jeremy Anderson

visited Songimvelo regularly and consulted there with officials over the future of the land once apartheid collapsed. Their initial efforts proved sustainable- it now forms part of SAN Parks.” Smuts recalls the early proclamation of the Mthetomusha reserve – a reserve on tribal land that fell under the leadership of the late Chief Charles Nkosi. Nkosi readily cooperated with the proposal to form a partnership with KaNgwane Parks Board to set aside this magnificent piece of Lowveld for conservation of the biodiversity of fauna and flora. This tract of land lies along the N4 in the Crocodile Gorge and abuts the southern borders of the Kruger National Park.

Linking with the broader conservation community In 1976 an important meeting took place that was to put new energy into Dr Mabuza’s efforts. This was the year in which Dr Mabuza met with internationally respected environmentalist Dr Ian Player. The meeting of the minds of these two leaders led to a series of events that were to significantly change the conservation landscape in South Africa. As Dr Player recalls: “(When I first met Dr Mabuza) I was immediately impressed with his bearing and his sharp mind. He was obviously very interested in conservation and so I invited him onto a Wilderness

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