• Program Director 

• Members of the media 

• Mr Simon Malete from DFFE 

• My fellow Executive Managers 

• iSimangaliso Employees 

• All dignitaries 

Good morning, 

I would like to firstly welcome you to iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, where miracles and wonders never ends. We are pleased to be honoured by your visit, and we hope that you will have a wonderful time and one of the best experiences you’ve ever had. 

Maybe to briefly take you through what is iSimangaliso Wetland Park is.  iSimangaliso is a vast, protected area along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The park's centerpiece is the world-renowned Lake St. Lucia, home to large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, pelicans, and flamingos. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values. 

iSimangaliso is listed as a World Heritage Site under the following 3 criteria out of 10 

criteria: 

o Ecological and biological processes o Superlative 

natural phenomena, o Biological diversity. 

o 16 land parcels were consolidated into one. 

• Park size is 1,314,539 ha

• Potential size with Mozambique Marine Protected Area extension: 153 

992 ha TOTAL = 1 468 531 ha

I stand before you today as the accounting officer of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, and it is my pleasure to reflect on the strides taken by the Entity over the previous 2024/25 financial year, which have resulted in a clean audit report by the Auditor General of South Africa. What a journey it has been, traversing hand in hand to reach such a pivotal moment. 

This huge accomplishment comes after a range of robust financial control measures and improvements in the internal control system and processes made by the management of iSimangaliso. A clean audit report serves as a reminder of the high standards of ethics that give life to all iSimangaliso functions and procedures. The clean audit reports obtained by the Park in the 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 financial years are a clear demonstration of iSimangaliso’s commitment towards clean governance. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering dedication of the iSimangaliso staff, and I would like to take this moment to commend all iSimangaliso employees on a job well done. 

Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the  Chairperson of the Board, Inkosi I.M. Tembe, the iSimangaliso Management, and all our stakeholders who have played a crucial role in ensuring that iSimangaliso achieves this significant recognition. Building a reputation as one of the best performing Entities doesn’t come easy. Through collaborative efforts between the Department and the Board of iSimangaliso, management and traditional leadership from uMkhanyakude district and kwaSokhulu communities, we have been able to strengthen the position of the Entity for the empowerment of all. 

The Auditor-General of South Africa publishes consolidated reports on local and provincial audit outcomes for each financial year. A clean audit opinion is the most favourable audit outcome, signifying that the AGSA found no material misstatements in the financial statements and that the entity’s performance reports had no material findings. These reports cover various government entities, including municipalities, provincial departments, and public entities. 

For the 2023/24 financial year, there were seven municipalities that achieved unqualified with no findings (clean) audit opinions, and 36 municipalities across KZN were unqualified with findings, which means that they did not achieve clean governance. I desire that you register just how significant obtaining an unqualified opinion is. As the government continues to experience fiscal constraints, iSimangaliso has managed to rise above the challenges that plague so many of our counterparts. Lack of accountability and poor financial management impede service delivery. iSimangaliso’s hard work has yielded another 100% on the organisational performance (APP) for the fifth year in succession. This means that the iSimangaliso vision and mission aren’t just statements but serve as a blueprint of the Entity. 

Standing here, I’m reminded of the many socio-economic ills that plague the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, with unemployment being the biggest contributing factor. uMkhanyakude’s unemployment rate is sitting at 46,3% which is 13 percent higher than the national unemployment rate that is currently 33.2%. This harsh reality is why iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is committed to making a positive impact. Through skills development training and internship programs, we have created opportunities for young people to gain valuable experience and kick-start their careers. 

This is in line with the recommendations of the AGSA, which has recommended that councils and accounting officers actively track audit action plans and key service delivery targets. The AGSA has also emphasized prioritising the recruitment of qualified and skilled staff, enforcing strict accountability, and strengthening oversight to support continued improvements. The Entity’s enthusiasm for closing the inequality gap within the communities where the Park operates is reflected through its development of sustainable tourism practices such as nature-based tourism. 

As we usher in the new 5-year Strategic Plan for the period 2025 through to 2030, one of the critical focus areas is the aggressive marketing of the Park. A key priority in this Strategic Plan is to enhance iSimangaliso’s visibility, not only as a conservation area but also as a premier eco-tourism destination. By doing so, the Park can leverage its unique biodiversity and cultural heritage to create economic opportunities, particularly for local communities. This approach will bolster both iSimangaliso’s mission and South Africa’s border tourism economy, ensuring that the ecological and financial benefits of the Park are widely shared. 

Poverty, unemployment, hunger, inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change are but a few of the complex issues challenging the world today. Throughout the last 25 years, iSimangaliso, which operates within a poverty node, has taken leaps and bounds to push back on these issues. 

iSimangaliso’s mandate is to integrate the conservation of the outstanding universal natural values and socio-economic development and redistribution in one of South Africa’s poorest districts, by ensuring that it is a key macro-economic driver within the government’s regional development plan. 

The objectives of the Entity are to conserve, protect, and present the Park. To empower historically disadvantaged communities living in and adjacent to the Park and to optimize tourism and related development in the Park.

For the Park to continue to operate for another 25 years and remain relevant, there needs to be a flow of opportunities that will be beneficial for improving the lives of the people who hold the rich cultural identity of the Park. The Entity’s current operations strongly rely on financial support from the Government in the form of grants. 

iSimangaliso initiated the Commercialisation Strategy to combat this dependency and steer the Entity to self-sustainability. Commercialisation is therefore a tool to empower, through the creation of a system that allows for benefit sharing. Public Private  Partnership (PPP) has begun, and we look forward to yielding positive results that will  have a ripple effect throughout the previously disadvantaged communities that border the Park. 

The commercialisation strategy that is developed, approved, and implemented 

includes the following: 

The 2025/30 Strategic Plan sets a clear path for iSimangaliso to strengthen its conservation efforts to promote eco-tourism and drive inclusive community development. The reviewed mission of iSimangaliso is to be a globally celebrated World Heritage Site, known for its sustainable conservation practices, exceptional tourism experiences, and equitable benefit-sharing. The plan is centered on biodiversity conservation, sustainable commercialization, and socio-economic inclusivity, ensuring that the park is protected, preserved, and appreciated both locally and globally. 

The 7th Government Administration has committed the next five years to driving inclusive economic growth, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and strengthening governance. In alignment with these priorities, DFFE and its entities, including iSimangaliso, have structured their strategic goals to contribute to national development while ensuring the protection of South Africa’s natural heritage. The next 5 years therefore present a unique opportunity for us to build upon the foundation that was laid over the last five years. 

25 years of iSimangaliso Wetland Park is equal to 25 years of conservation, preservation and rehabilitation. iSimangaliso has undergone significant ecological rehabilitation, including the removal of alien vegetation and the reintroduction of various animal species, therefore commercialisation is the next step in insuring the long-term sustainability of the Park. 

The impact of iSimangaliso reaches far and wide. Since the beginning of 2025, the Park has grown in leaps and bounds, achieving critical acclaim for both its tourism and conservation efforts across Africa and beyond. Earlier this year, iSimangaliso travelled to Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, which took place in Durban, where the Entity managed to successfully bring home the Platinum Award in Green Stands Exhibitors Awards. This was not iSimangaliso’s first time at the podium as the Entity managed to take home this award for the first time in 2023. 

Later in the year, Thonga Beach Lodge located in the northern section of iSimangaliso won big at the  32nd Annual Travel Awards Africa and Indian Ocean Gala, taking home the award for South Africa’s Leading Beach Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Thonga Beach Lodge represents the best of what iSimangaliso has to offer. Known for its unspoiled wilderness beaches, magical coastal forests, shimmering lakes, and eco-elevated luxury, it fits perfectly within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the first inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa. 

To generate the same result throughout the Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority is actively seeking the participation of the private sector to enhance the tourism offering within iSimangaliso through Public Private Partnership (PPP), for the redevelopment and operation of tourism resorts (lodges and campsites). The first resort that has been made available to the public is Charters Creek. Located on the Western Shores section of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Charters Creek is known for its peaceful lakeside setting, fishing, and birdwatching opportunities. We look forward to receiving the same results in Charters Creek as Thonga Beach Lodge in the near future. I'm pleased to acknowledge our strong partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, a vital conservation authority in KZN. Our collaboration has enabled us to contribute to the preservation of South Africa's rich biodiversity and natural heritage.

Through joint initiatives and projects, we've worked together to protect and conserve our 

environment, promote sustainable practices, and support eco-tourism. iSimangaliso, in collaboration with Ezemvelo, believes in empowering the youth and contributing to the country's economic growth. iSimangaliso is dedicated to minimizing unemployment rates by providing training, mentorship, and job opportunities. iSimangaliso Wetland Park was established under the World Heritage Convention Act. 

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife was initially mandated with managing the eco-tourism aspect of the Park, as the Entity at the time lacked the capacity to manage this function. This agreement was always meant to be temporary and is now set to come to an end as early as February 2026. The management of eco-tourism facilities and income generation will be transferred from Ezemvelo to iSimangaliso, and Ezemvelo will continue to manage conservation within the Park in compliance with the World 

Heritage Convention Act. The coastal and marine management agreement between the two entities will also remain unchanged. I would like to emphasize that there will be no jobs lost during this transition period.