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Transcript Special Project
PRESENTATION
CRADLE OF HUMANKIND
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
(The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and
environs)
Presentation to
PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
01 APRIL 2003
Context and
background
South Africa signed the World
Heritage Convention in 1997
The Cradle of Humankind was
listed in December 1999 along
with Robben Island and
Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park.
Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg is
the latest South African WHS to
be declared
World Heritage Convention Act
passed in December 1999 - set
up management authorities &
plans: DACEL management
authority at this time
Context and background
High community expectations after listing.
High political expectations.
Context and background
Almost all of the site is on privately owned land (700 landowners)
Tenure security
Economic development (tourism industry, job creation)
Conservation of the area
How to develop the whole site for majority benefit
Infrastructure and services improvements
Negotiations with University of the Witwatersrand
Now Two Provinces & Four Local Authorities
Soon to become one DMA under the West Rand
District Municipality.
There appears to be some issue at present regarding municipal
“ownership” of the site. This has been clarified and is hopefully soon
to be resolved.
Competing (and often individualist) interests.
Mostly pristine environment ecologically & visually
Dolomites constitute a natural
limitation on development
Located in important grass biome rare Bankenveld grasslands
Biodiversity second to the fynbos
Context and background
47 000ha of site, spanning two
provinces (approximately 10% in North
West Province)
Budget of R184m for infrastructure
costs for the development of the site as
a whole.
Budget of R163m for the development of
a complex of Interpretive facilities.
Donor funding for this is presently being
sought. Gauteng Government is donor
of last resort.
Mohale’s Gate - 100 ha of Land donated
by Standard Bank, to be used for the
construction of the Interpretation
Centre.
Uniqueness
The subject of human origins is
one of global interest. Not only
are there questions of how, when,
and where we evolved in the
remote past but equally there are
those which address the roots of
our current ethnic diversity. All of
these questions require fossil
evidence to be answered. They
need material collected from
different habitats and samples
from many countries.
Vision
To achieve an acceptable balance in the WHS between:
the conservation of cultural and natural resources;
access;
scientific research and education;
the interests of those living and working in the area and
its use for the economic and social benefit of the population at large
Key challenges:
balancing interests
sharing benefits
To establish the WHS as a centre of human development.
Strategy
To preserve a palaeo-anthropological site of unique international
significance
To showcase Africa, and specifically, Southern Africa as the source of
human origins and thus to add value to the African Renaissance
movement and the New Partnership for African Development
To promote a sense of provincial, national and continental pride in our
origins and heritage
To establish an institution to mobilise international and domestic
interest and resources for the protection and development of the site
as the showcase site of the origins and story of humanity
To provide capital investment that will allow for the leveraging of
private investment in the area
To contribute a key destination to tourism destinations in Gauteng and
South Africa
To add value to local development, tourism and job creation strategies
Financial Sustainability &
Investment
Sustainability
Independence from public subsidies
Economic viability and self sufficiency
Income and financial return
Community benefits
Scientific research
Conservation
Financial sustainability &
Investment
Diverse funding and partnerships
Public and private sources
Site-generated income
Foundation and donor support
Institutional and business
plan
Establishment of a Management Authority
Establishment of a Charitable Trust, likely to be
a Public Benefit Organisation
Establishment of an Operational Entity
Management Authority
Planning, regulatory and oversight
responsibilities as provided for in Section 8 of
the World Heritage Site Act
Co-ordinating responsibility between various
government agencies
COH Charitable Trust /
PBO
Income generation
Fundraising for social good purposes
Income generation through a variety of business, tourism and
educational facilities
Income disbursement
Operating, maintenance and capital replacement costs
Disbursements for community benefits, scientific research and
conservation efforts
Non profit tax status
Appointed Board of Directors
Operational entity
The PBO will enter into a long-term concession
agreement with a selected partner. The consortium
would take substantial business risk for the design,
construction, exhibition installation and operation of the
facilities, and would pay a concession fee to the PBO for
the opportunity.
Tourism strategy
Visitor vision:
High quality palaeo-anthropological, cultural and eco-tourism
Protection of the ecological integrity of the area
Development of tourist nodes in identified low or moderate intensity
use zones
Provision of appropriate signage, facilities and infrastructure
Requirements for visitor management:
Site protection
Provision of a quality tourist experience without visitor saturation
Improved access to the site
Improved infrastructure, for transportation in particular
Tourism strategy
Must see for international visitors
Must do for repeat visits for domestic tourism catchment
Must do for school visits
Unique destination of choice for conferencing, eventing and
banqueting
Niche destination for WHS tourists
Niche destination for mid-interest and special interest tourism
Tourism development
plan
Network of Interpretive Facilities / Interpretation Centre
Complex
Mohales Gate – Major, world class Interpretation Centre
Sterkfontein – Primary Hominid orientation centre
Orientation Centres and visitor information points with
diverse tourism offerings to be developed as PPPs at
various points around the site.
Zonation Schedule
The following zones apply, in order of sensitivity:
Palaeontological Zone – relating primarily to the existing fossil
sites and environs.
Ridges and Wetland Zone – identified for their ecological and
visual sensitivity.
Very low Intensity Use Zone – Central catchment area,
identified as an area of high conservation value e.g. near Bankenveld.
Low Intensity Use Zone – contains the sensitive fossil sites, but
has been partially modified through subdivision.
Moderate Intensity Use Zone – highly subdivided zone, where
the majority of existing uses are located.
Corridor Zone – aimed at controlling land uses along the main
routes through the WHS.
Medium term outlook
Financial plan assumes visitor demand of 300 000pa
New information assumes visitor demand of 1 000 000pa
Planning progress
1999 / 2000
Stakeholder identification and participation & majority in-principle support.
Development of proposed plans
The World Heritage Listing of the Site
2000 / 2001
Appointment and orientation of staff (September 2000)
Appointment of consultants for Masterplanning process
Extensive public consultation
2001 /2002
Production of masterplan
Production of business plan
Design and implementation plan for the Interpretation Centre Complex
Tender procedures – bids received
Ongoing negotiations with the University of the Witwatersrand.
Master plan reports
completed
Integrated Report for the Development and Management of the Cradle of
Humankind World Heritage Site
Interpretation Network Masterplan
Tourism analysis
Visitor survey
Tourism master plan
Infrastructure master plan
Land use master plan
Zonation master plan
Specialist study on socio economic context
Geohydrology status quo
EIA guidelines
Best Environmental Practice Guidelines
Monitoring and Evaluation Programme
Financial Analysis and Economic Benefit Report
Financial model
Conference centre operating model
Additional outputs
Policy and Manual on Tenure Security
Draft plans for Community Benefits
Initial scoping for a “Skills Development and Employment”
programme
Tender process for Cultural Resource Management Plans
Development of Branding and Marketing opportunities
Inter-governmental Housing Task Team set up
Cultural Resource Management plans for fossil sites
Progress with operational
priorities: 2002/3
Commencement with
Stakeholder participation & communication
Community benefits and training program
Implement World Heritage Convention Act
Environment & Conservation activities
Planning and initiation of WHS Interpretation Center Complex
Upgrades to certain roads
Signage (tourism)
Marketing initiatives e.g. ads in newspapers, distribution of posters to
all schools
Field Guide
Fire safety regime
Management plans for each fossil site.
Progress with operational
priorities: 2002/3 cont
WSSD
Development of Marketing and Branding opportunities
Initial exploration of orientation centre possibilities
Fundraising
Staff expansion
Establishment of Management Authority
Setting up of secondary offices in Muldersdrift
Sale of Merchandise and cost recovery
Fossil site management plans and agreements with landowners
Financial Sustainability &
investment for ICC
Mohale’s Gate Interpretation Centre
Ownership by Gauteng Provincial Government and nominal rental to
the Charitable Trust / PBO
Sterkfontein Orientation Centre
Ownership by Wits and nominal rental to the Charitable Trust / PBO
and disbursement of grants to the Scientific Trust;
It is not envisaged that DACEL or WITS will be involved in the day-today management or operations of the specific interpretive facilities.
Tender process for the ICC
Call for Expressions of Interest, published – September 2001
Request for Qualifications published - October 2001
Briefing sessions held 17 and 29 October 2001
Closure for submissions 14 November 2001
Adjudication process 19 November 2001
4 consortia shortlisted to bid for the Request for Proposals (RFP)
RFP issued 15 March 2002
Pre proposal meeting held 09 April 2002
Proposals received 14 June 2002
Initial scanning of proposals reveals that all four of them have material
still necessary for completion.
Furneaux Stewart GAPP appointed as preferred bidder.
Target date for finalisation of contract negotiations for Mohale’s Gate
and Sterkfontein Sites April 2003.
Community Benefits
programmes
Investment in skills development for the growth of the tourism
industry including:
Resource Management training
Tourism Service Industry training
Tour Guide training
Skills training in infrastructive building and maintenance
Establishment of an incentives program to leverage and reward
private sector investment and local people using low interest and/or
deferred payment schemes
Land and housing opportunities
Management Advisory Services
Business Opportunities Assistance
Community benefits
Community benefits scheme to include:
Community Equity Partnership (CEP) to allow residents in the area to benefit
economically through an equity share in the major interpretation centre (with
equity for a tertiary institution as well).
Land and housing resources (target 750 houses in 1st three years)
Environmental Management Services
Site facility improvement assistance
SMME training support & financing assistance
Resource management training and education
Local employment preference policy linked to incentives
Public sector led employment impacts (IC forecasts 1200 temp and 600 perm
jobs) but many other spin off jobs created
Tourism Service Industry training
Contracts for local services
Research grants
Skills Development and Employment programme.
Marketing and Tourism
development
Development of several high profile annual events:
Cycle Race
Marathon
Annual Cradle Lecture
Book development
Music and cultural event development
Sustained advertising
Media development – videos, national competitions
Development of Orientations Centres as PPPs