Social context of the Eastern Cape:
The South African province of the Eastern Cape has, for some time, been identified as one of the areas needing socio-economic development the most. It has the third largest population out of all nine of the South African provinces but the second lowest Human Development Index. Pumba Private Game Reserve is a very special part of the conservation of the Eastern Cape, considering that only three percent of the entire province falls under formal conservation areas. We take our responsibility towards socio-economic development and the conservation of our biodiversity very seriously.
Pumba has identified two major areas in which it can use ecotourism to maintain and protect the natural beauty of the Eastern Cape:
- Using natural resources in a responsible, sustainable way
- Ensuring that endangered and threatened species are protected in an environment in which they may not naturally have survived or coexisted with others
As part of the Centre of Floristic Endemism, Pumba enjoys prime positioning to play a key role in both of these spheres.
Umzi Wethu Stewardship Programme:
The Umzi Wethu Training Academy for Displaced Youth is situated in the nearby city of Port Elizabeth. This programme is designed to provide certified vocational training, internships and mentoring to AIDS orphans and vulnerable youth. They are thus qualified for jobs within the ecotourism industry. This would not be possible without the support and cooperation of game reserves, which allow these ones to get practical training and experience. Pumba Private Game Reserve is one of the reserves that has partnered with Umzi Wethu for the development of South African youths.
Umzi Wethu has assisted almost 100 orphaned or vulnerable youngsters by giving them the valuable resource of a mentor and teaching them the wonders and significance of our natural environment. Pumba invests in a year of these youth�s education by allowing them to learn and be trained within the very environment about which they are learning, allowing them practical, hands-on experience. They receive accredited training and are thereafter able to pursue careers as field rangers, field guides, chefs and lodge hosts.
Makana Business Chamber:
The Makana Business Chamber is a non-profit organisation that represents (in a completely neutral way) all of the organised businesses under the Makana Municipality. Pumba Private Game Reserve is one of these businesses, and one that plays an integral role in the upliftment of the community and the conservation of the environment.
The Makana Business Chamber allows all of the businesses to combine their efforts and cooperate with one another for the advantage of the area. This also provides a platform on which to debate and discuss important concerns or matters, as well as to meet with other business owners, labour unions, government officials, and the like. This bridges the gap between small, emerging companies and those that are more firmly established.
The Makana Business Chamber also allows its members to have direct contact with the Makana Municipality, giving them the power to run and improve their businesses in a significant, effective way.
Seven Fountains Agri-village:
Pumba Private Game Reserve is very excited to be assisting the Makana Municipality in the establishment of an agri-village at Seven Fountains. This involves establishing 124 plots, on which RDP housing, a school, police station, clinic, church and sports fields will be erected. This means that many of the local rural people in Seven Fountains will not have to live in wood or iron shacks and will have access to life’s basic needs.
In this way, rural folk in the area around Pumba will benefit from the skills development initiatives that have taken place and will have a better quality of life. The staff of Pumba will also be able to get their own plot and RDP house and a Pumba bus will travel to and from the agri-village on a daily basis to transport these ones to and from work.
