By Simon Nare
The story of South Africa’s national parks is incomplete if told only to tourists without acknowledging the surrounding communities who were forcibly removed during apartheid to make way for the preservation of animals and other species.
This was one of the key messages raised at the South African National Parks (SANParks) Vision 2040 Indaba currently underway in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
The gathering, convened by SANParks, seeks to explore ways of involving communities in conservation efforts across the country.
During a panel discussion, traditional healer Makhosi Amanda Gcabashe argued that tourists were being short-changed because SANParks excluded the history of displaced communities.
She said the focus remained on wildlife and landscapes while erasing the cultural and historical context of the people who once coexisted with nature.
“When you look at the parks, even the marketing focuses on the animals and the land. But the real context—about the communities, their culture, and their history—is never included. It’s erased. So, frankly, if you come to any of the parks, it could be anywhere in the world,” she said.
Gcabashe stressed that by ignoring these narratives, the parks lacked the spirituality Africa is known for.
She praised SANParks for bringing communities into the Vision 2040 process, describing it as a bold and people-centred initiative.
However, not all participants were as complimentary.
Some criticised SANParks for failing to consult meaningfully with communities, accusing it of engaging a handful of experts while sidelining traditional leaders.
They argued that local communities, with generations of lived knowledge, could offer invaluable insights, yet SANParks often deferred to Western-trained specialists instead.
Gcabashe added that the previous model focused only on development within park boundaries while neglecting the surrounding areas—alienating communities, some of whom still refuse to attend SANParks meetings.
Others raised concerns that many traditional leaders and their people have not healed from the trauma of forced removals, and that current approaches do little to rebuild trust.
Traditional healers also complained that sacred sites within parks remain inaccessible and that they are often barred from collecting medicinal herbs necessary for healing.
Suggestions were made that SANParks should employ traditional healers to advise on community engagement and spiritual matters.
One healer cited the example of a Traditional Healers’ Weekend once launched at Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State, which was promoted as an annual event but never repeated.
Former parks manager Victor Mokoena confirmed the event, describing it as spiritually powerful. SANParks representatives on the panel acknowledged the oversight and pledged to revisit the concept.
This, critics argued, reflected a broader problem: SANParks has strong policies but often fails to implement them.
The indaba is being used to solicit ideas from community and traditional leaders on how to strengthen relationships and ensure meaningful inclusion in the Vision 2040 agenda.
Speakers cautioned, however, that the gathering should not become a “talk shop” but must produce clear, actionable outcomes.
In a statement, SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said the indaba had drawn representatives from government, farming communities, academia, civil society, sponsors, donors, the private sector, land claimant communities, conservation partners, and youth.
“The indaba is intended to foster meaningful dialogue and forge collaborative actions that will advance the implementation of Vision 2040,” Louw said.
He described it as a bold strategy that advocates a people-centred, conservation-driven agenda aimed at ensuring “thrivability” between biodiversity conservation, social justice, and economic empowerment.
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