The Break

This is where things are getting interesting.

This is the point where the back channel originate from. Before 1999 Natal Parks Board where the Custodians of The Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park.

Natal Parks Board has a very long History reflecting on their ingenious ways to increase Conservation Areas. Cultural Habits from ancient practices of Hunter Gatherers had to be convinced that Conservation Areas are the best solution to ensure Sustainable Utilisation.

So over the 100 years they grew into the mighty organisation that they used to be they commited communities to enshrine their Ancestral Harvesting Rights into Conservation Areas. Where Sacred Hunting Grounds where encountered Wilderness Areas where Established... But wait.. that is a story for another video..

Let's get back to 1994 dilemma. Funds where cut to Conservation Areas to make room for a more inclusive Parliamentary Structure. Parks Board had to find away to fund their Conservation Promises and Efforts. 

They Introduced Fishing Permits and Beach Driving Permits. The latter was said to be used to fund the Very Expensive Estuary Management Plan. All the 1968 Sediment Traps and Back Channels had to be maintained.

Unfortunately Mr Vali Moosa was very ambitious Minister of Environmental Affairs and had his vision on becoming The First South African President for the IUCN. This was very challenging for him since as a Teacher Spending a lot of time in Jail as a Terrorist he had to do something drastic to proof he was worthy of filling the seat.

It was very important for The ANC to fill that seat because the IUCN hold the GEF Check Book. So The National Beach Driving Ban was implemented. Parks Board lost their R16.5 million revenue on beach driving permits and had no way to fund the R7.5 million annual Estuary Management Plan.

By 1999 They lost control over The Great St Lucia Wetlands Park as it recieved World Heritage Status. This led to many people believe that the System must be left to Nature. Well since this back channel was damaged by Demoina back in 1984 and neither the National Party nor the ANC had the Political will to repair the damages this break has become a liability to the Health of the Greater St Lucia system.

But we will discuss this in the next segment where the course of the Umfolozi River is explained from here downstream to the Ocean.

Regards

Petrus Viviers

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