Durban - Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has advised the public that the Cengeni Gate of Mfolozi Game Reserve in the Ulundi section, north of KZN, will remain closed due to a community protest.
According to the statement issued on Saturday, the protest follows a recent escape of two rhinos and two lions on Tuesday and again on Friday.
“Ezemvelo managed to recapture the rhino on Thursday. The second rhino that had been shot at by one community member, in its confused state, and due to its short-sightedness ran towards a nearby homestead where it stamped on a 45-year-old female. It’s also caused some damage to nearby homes.
The two lions exited the park through a galley near the railway line and one lion has since been destroyed after it killed four cows, read the statement.
The public have since been requested to use the Memorial or the Nyalazi gates.
The statement also indicated that the recent protest came as a surprise to Ezemvelo management as one of the resolutions was taken during a recent community meeting attended by the former MEC Ravi Pillay.
Discussions in the meeting were that the park will be given two months to repair the damaged fence.
Another resolution taken was that local people should be employed to repair the fence.
“There are 115 people from the local community who have been employed to repair the fence and be fence liners, out of which some were employed before the MEC’s met with the community. Currently, only 21 out of 115 have not started as the entity is finalising the vetting processes as well as awaiting their medical reports. An additional 136 people have been employed through the Working on Fire Project,” it said.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE