Mr Chair, Minister and the House at large, section 24(a) of our Constitution provides that every person has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing. Flowing from that provision, I would like to share with the Minister and this House a few observations connected to the environmental problems I have experienced in the Northern Province. We have a problem with the state of disrepair of the security fences along the Kruger National Park. These fences are commonly known there as ``10 heights''. The problems related to these are as follows: Firstly, these fences are very dilapidated. Wild animals and predators often leave the park and enter villages, causing problems and destroying livestock. A month ago, we had a terrible situation. Seven lions, along with one cheetah and one buffalo escaped from the Kruger National Park. Later on, these lions were tracked down and four were shot dead. Three are still at large along with the cheetah and the buffalo. One other shocking experience in that area is that a certain gentleman called Judas Baloyi was knocked down by a buffalo and became unconscious, and he eventually recovered in hospital.
I am just trying to indicate to the Minister the problems that we experience in the unfriendly environment in that particular area. The state of affairs is definitely not pleasing in that particular area, and is mainly due to the fencing which is quite loose. This might not fall within the competency of the Minister, but I think it is worth mentioning because it is connected to the environment.
One other observation about a problem is that the environment there becomes so unfriendly that some people lose livestock. Hence, I would like to know from the Minister if there is an intention to establish a compensation policy because a lot of the livestock in those areas serve as a means of income for the rural people there. I know of a lot of youths that have gone to universities and technikons because of the fact that their parents reared livestock, and this is very important. One other observation that I wish to make is that, especially at the ranches where people come to see the animals and some come for professional hunting purposes, and there is a pile of stores and goods that are going to waste. For example, at the Letaba ranch, we have hides and skins that were left there by the former homeland governments which are piling up and rotting. These could be sold and this money could go into the government coffers.
We also have equipment, machinery and other items in those areas. They are lying there unused. I would request that, if this particular matter falls within the competency of the Minister, it should please receive very urgent attention.
It is a pity that, in most cases, I do not have much time. I always have only four minutes. Otherwise, I could have told him more stories about baboons and other things that are moving around there that are creating an unfriendly environment in those areas. [Laughter.] [Applause.]