Companies lend support to fire-ravaged Table Mountain

AN amount of R45m, plus millions of rands of marketing exposure, has been pledged by a number of big businesses, following a call for private-sector involvement in the rehabilitation the fire-ravaged Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP), which includes Table Mountain. This follows the launch of the fire rehabilitation programme, Ukuvuka-Operation Firestop in Cape Town last month call by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, MohammedValli Moosa and Water Affairs and Forestry Minister, Ronnie Kasrils. James Jackelman, acting environmental manager for the CPNP says a Trust Fund will be established for funds raised, and if the target of R140m is reached, the fund will sustain the area for the next 50 years. Santam, a well-known insurance company in Southern Africa, led the way by pledging R20m over the next four years, then Total stepped in and donated an amount of R5m, South African National Parks obtained a further R20m from the World Bank and the Argus Newspaper group offered free exposure and marketing. A well-known local advertising agency has also offered to spearhead a national marketing and communications campaign on the progress of the rehabilitation programme, says Jackelman. According to him, the Work for Water Project of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, headed by Dr Guy Preston, has also promised an undisclosed amount to the rehabilitation campaign. Work for Water is currently driving the fundraising process. "The implementation of the rehabilitation process will take place in three phases. The main short-term focus is the alien clearing and flood mitigation, followed by disaster management and the management of natural areas at the urban edge," explains Jackelman. An amount of R10m to R15m is needed per year, over the next 50 years, to sustain the rehabilitation process. (Adele Mackenzie)