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The Western Cape Government’s nature conservation entity, CapeNature, created 1 105 work opportunities, by procuring the services of 19 SMMEs, benefitting the communities surrounding their nature reserves in the 2022/23 financial year.

This was revealed during the tabling of the entity’s Annual Report for the 2022/23 financial year in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament today.

The SMMEs provided key nature conservation services including invasive alien plant clearing, the making of fire breaks, hiking trails, and reserve road maintenance, to CapeNature.

In addition, CapeNature used Expanded Public Works Programme funding to employ 608 people on a full-time equivalent basis, mostly around rural towns and communities.

16 learners were also provided with experiential learning and job-market readiness opportunities, helping to increase their future employability, while increasing the nature conservation skills in the province.

MPP Andricus van der Westhuizen: “Nature conservation is such an important issue, and it is outstanding that CapeNature has managed to fulfil their key mandate while also creating employment, especially in rural areas.

This points to good governance, and CapeNature is doing its part empower local businesses as well as communities, providing a much-needed boost to the rural economy. Where the DA governs, we will always find the most efficient way to reach our targets, to the biggest of benefit our residents.”

Issued by Andricus van der Westhuizen, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning