'Invisible gun' over our heads, say farmers

THREE farmers, stuck in the middle of the proposed development of the Greater Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth and who've been successfully running tourism ventures on their farms - are holding out against selling their farms to South African National Parks (SANP). However, they fear that the "invisible gun" of expropriation may soon be brought into play. Bob Whyte, owner of Intaba Bush Camp and luxury game lodge told Travel Now that while the SANP continued to publicly deny that it would appropriate farms, farmers still faced the "veiled" threat. But Mavuso Msimang, chief executive officer of SANP, says that while expropriation is an option - it will be used strictly as a last resort. "It is certainly not the SANP's policy to expropriate farmers and really the farmers have nothing to fear. We have not taken this kind of action for 20 years." He mentions further that expropriation cannot be initiated without court approval, a situation in which, he says, "the courts tend to be a lot more sympathetic to the individual". Whyte says there are other options - such as the establishment of a conservancy where both parties could enter into a management agreement - but that the SANP "is just not interested" in that option. According to Msimang, the SANP is open to the establishment of a conservancy or any other "viable alternative proposal" the farmers may have, as long as the SANP has oversight over the protected wildlife and vegetation. Another farmer, who has been running safaris and game drives on the farm since the early 1980s and who wishes to remain anonymous, said his farm had been in his family's name for two centuries and he had no intention of relinquishing ownership of "a legacy". He says he has been to several meetings where the SANP has said that they wish to purchase land on a "willing-buyer, willing-seller basis, but that not all landowners were willing. According to him, none of the farmers is against the development of the Addo, but feel that "it should be handled correctly, without any scare tactics". Msimang strongly denies the 'scare tactics' allegations and reiterates that it is not the way SANP does business. "If this occurs at ground level, it is unfortunate and we would like to be informed of this, but it is our policy to work on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis and we have no intention of forcing anyone to give up their land." Richard Lovemore, member of the executive committee of the Eastern Province Agricultural Union, admitted to Travel Now that he "would probably get himself into hot water" for speaking so openly, but, "I don't care", he said. "I feel that I have to speak out against the fact that farmers have this invisible gun pointed at their heads and that the SANP is not prepared to pay tourism-related market value, but only market value on agricultural property." Furthermore, says Lovemore, set boundaries have not been drawn up yet and while farmers have been warned not to develop their land "as it may affect the resale value", they still don't know whether their farms will fall within the boundaries. Msimang says land will be valued by a registered valuer which is "mutually agreed upon by both parties". "If land is used profitably for eco-tourism, it will be valued as such, but if it's used for agricultural purposes, it could take up to a century to restore the land for conservation. A market price, based on what it is currently used for, is more than fair." However, according to him, no-one from SANP is trying to prevent them from developing their own land. The truth, believes Msimang, is being stretched about how profitable the land actually is. He says some of the farmers are developing the land in ways which are "contradictory to environmental assessment" and ruining potentially good land which could be successfully used for conservation. "That obviously affects the market value of the land as an eco-tourism destination and they should be aware of that." He says the farmers - and the public - should focus on the "bigger picture" in that the Greater Addo Elephant National Park will offer the most diverse natural experience, offering not only bush, but coastline experiences including sightings of Great Whites and Southern Right whales. By creating such a huge park, predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah can also be re-introduced. Msimang adds that research clearly indicates that the overwhelming majority of the public is in favour of the development. "The Eastern Cape is an economically depressed area and the development of the park as a major tourism destination will create a number of new jobs and much-needed development opportunities for the locals." (Adele Mackenzie)