The world heritage-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park is claiming a massive victory over sugarcane farmers in northern KwaZulu-Natal‚ saying a high court ruling on Friday is “a victory for nature”.
According to a statement released on Sunday morning‚ the park welcomed a ruling by Durban Judge Mohini Moodley in what is a complicated matter relating to back-flooding of sugarcane fields. The farmers went to court last year to argue that the Lake St Lucia estuary should be breached out to sea when water levels reached a certain level‚ saying that high water levels would result in flooding of their fields and damaged crops.
Isimangaliso‚ however‚ argued that by allowing the water to run out to sea‚ the lake and its environment would be severely damaged. The park said that any damage to the ecologically-sensitive environmental would affect the lives of the 80‚000 people who were dependent on Lake St Lucia for subsistence‚ and would also have a negative impact of the area’s tourism potential.
On Friday‚ Moodley ruled in the park’s favour.
iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis said‚ “Lake St Lucia’s life blood has been returned.”
He added that the ruling was one of “environmental justice” for the 800 hippos and 1‚200 large crocodiles that lived in the lake.
“And for the people who depend on Lake St Lucia‚ this verdict comes as a relief after the many court applications that threatened their livelihoods. Tourism directly related to this estuary generates approximately R1.2 billion in revenue for the area and creates in the region of 7‚000 jobs. It is also central to the fisheries industry on the east coast of Africa‚” he said.
Lawrence McGrath‚ general manager of Umfolozi Sugar Planters Ltd‚ who took the matter to court‚ said on Sunday: “We have no comment‚ although we respect the court process and have to yet to debrief on the outcome.”
iSimangaliso claims court victory against sugarcane farmers
The world heritage-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park is claiming a massive victory over sugarcane farmers in northern KwaZulu-Natal‚ saying a high court ruling on Friday is “a victory for nature”.
According to a statement released on Sunday morning‚ the park welcomed a ruling by Durban Judge Mohini Moodley in what is a complicated matter relating to back-flooding of sugarcane fields. The farmers went to court last year to argue that the Lake St Lucia estuary should be breached out to sea when water levels reached a certain level‚ saying that high water levels would result in flooding of their fields and damaged crops.
Isimangaliso‚ however‚ argued that by allowing the water to run out to sea‚ the lake and its environment would be severely damaged. The park said that any damage to the ecologically-sensitive environmental would affect the lives of the 80‚000 people who were dependent on Lake St Lucia for subsistence‚ and would also have a negative impact of the area’s tourism potential.
On Friday‚ Moodley ruled in the park’s favour.
iSimangaliso CEO Andrew Zaloumis said‚ “Lake St Lucia’s life blood has been returned.”
He added that the ruling was one of “environmental justice” for the 800 hippos and 1‚200 large crocodiles that lived in the lake.
“And for the people who depend on Lake St Lucia‚ this verdict comes as a relief after the many court applications that threatened their livelihoods. Tourism directly related to this estuary generates approximately R1.2 billion in revenue for the area and creates in the region of 7‚000 jobs. It is also central to the fisheries industry on the east coast of Africa‚” he said.
Lawrence McGrath‚ general manager of Umfolozi Sugar Planters Ltd‚ who took the matter to court‚ said on Sunday: “We have no comment‚ although we respect the court process and have to yet to debrief on the outcome.”
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