NWPL COMMITTEE ON TOURISM DEMANDS SUSTAINABILITY PLAN FOR BARBERSPAN BIRD SANCTUARY AMID LOW REVENUE AND FUNDING CHALLENGES

The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, chaired by Hon. Mpho Khunou, conducted a follow-up oversight visit to Barberspan Bird Sanctuary to assess the condition of the facility and progress in implementing recommendations made during its previous visit. The Committee raised concerns about the sanctuary’s future after hearing that revenue collection was as little as R1,000 on some days, with no income generated on many others. Funding constraints and unsuccessful efforts to attract interest through commercialisation further raised questions about its financial sustainability.

The North West Parks and Tourism Board presented an approved operational plan and budget for 2026/27. However, the Committee remained dissatisfied with the implementation of its previous recommendations and requested a clear plan outlining how the sanctuary would sustain its operations. Hon. Khunou questioned where the sanctuary was headed, particularly following the Department’s indication that funds were unavailable. The Committee will follow up on the outcome of another round of commercialisation.

The Committee also noted infrastructure and staffing challenges. Roads regravelled in January had deteriorated after rain washed away the material, while the absence of security at the entrance gate left movement unmonitored. Although no incidents had been reported, management indicated that it had drafted a request for temporary security assistance. Progress reported included the installation of five geysers in staff quarters, the purchase of water tanks and furniture received from Mahikeng Hotel School. Painting was prioritised for the fourth quarter, while replacement signage and additional gate support remained outstanding.

On research partnerships, the Board reported collaborations with North-West University, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Gdańsk in Poland. The Committee requested a comprehensive report on the university memoranda of understanding, current research activities, their contribution to the sanctuary and implementation timelines. Regarding Recommendation 4 on cooperation with municipalities and other stakeholders, the Board reported that its assistance to Tswaing Local Municipality concerning Henk Joubert Game Reserve had not yielded positive results due to reported municipal non-compliance. The matter had been referred to the Executive Authority for regulatory compliance. The Committee requested full details of the referral letter.

The Committee further called for structured engagements with relevant stakeholders at least once every quarter and requested a comprehensive report addressing outstanding recommendations within seven days.