Pilanesberg Park Faces Backlash Over Deteriorating Conditions

AS a passionate wildlife photographer in my spare time, I decided to drag my fellow shooter and friend, Heaven Modise, for a day visit to the Pilanesberg National Park.

It was on 3 January when we took our kids for the adventure to Rustenburg in the North West.

While the plants, birds, and animals didn’t disappoint, the state in which we found this facility was appalling, to say the least.

Some of the tar roads within the park have rapidly declined, and parts of the asphalt have been washed away.

The condition of the toilets at the Batlhako Dam photographic hide was shocking.

There was human waste in the toilet bowls because of a lack of water.

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Politicians and government officials often sing the tune of how tourism can drive job creation and economic growth.

When launching Tourism Month in September 2024, North West MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Environment Conservation, and Tourism (DEDECT), Bitsa Lenkopane, was quoted as saying:

“This month is not just a celebration, it is a powerful reminder of the richness that lies in our diverse landscapes, our vibrant wildlife, biodiversity, cultures, and our warm, welcoming people.”
“From the golden savannas of the Pilanesberg to the beautiful Magaliesberg, and the tranquil waters of the Hartbeespoort Dam, from the historical significance of the Taung World Heritage Site to the vibrant rhythm of our local communities, to the hunting area of the province, North West is a province that tells a story like no other,”

Is the MEC aware that she invited global visitors to a national park that is in a sorry state, with the possibility that after some tourists experience the unhygienic facilities, they might not visit the park or the country again?

The MEC was further quoted saying: “As we launch this month of celebration, I urge every one of us to become ambassadors of this beautiful province,”

How will members of the public like me be ambassadors of facilities that are in a sorry state?

Does the MEC expect me and other citizens of this country to invite people from outside the country to visit a park where human waste is the first thing that greets you when you walk into a public toilet?

Does anyone understand and appreciate the long hours that park visitors take before they can have a comfort break?

Does the government factor this in when planning and trying to maintain the park’s facilities?

As someone who once visited the park many years ago while in primary school, I was embarrassed to see it in this state of decline.