Environment Dept to reprioritise funds to help restore Kruger National Park

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment said it will reprioritise funds to help restore the Kruger National Park, following extensive damage from recent flooding.

The park suffered severe destruction, with multiple roads and bridges washed away after receiving more than 500 millimetres of rain, forcing the evacuation of staff and visitors.

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Minister Willie Aucamp said the park’s contingency fund is nowhere near enough to cover the estimated R700 million in damages.

"There’s several low-water bridges that we could not assess at this stage because they’re still underwater. But the earliest figures we have are that it's in excess of R500 million. I received a preliminary figure yesterday of roughly R700 million. Unfortunately, I think that it’s gone up."

Aucamp said that Treasury has allowed SANParks to establish a recovery fund, and that donations will be overseen by three independent auditing firms to ensure accountability.

"We are appealing to people out there, people loving Kruger - South Africans, foreigners - to make a contribution, whether it's R10 or R1 million. Every single cent can help make up for the losses we've suffered. We will also have an insurance claim that will go in."