An Analysis of the Socio-Economic Impact of Pilanesberg National Park : the case of Bakgatla Community

Abstract

When the parks are created mention is made on wildlife conservation which includes the fauna and the flora. It is also important to note that where the national parks are established is a habitat for both human beings and animals. What becomes a challenge is the issue of addressing the livelihood of humankind within these areas when they are turned into protected areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the socio-economic impact of Pilanesberg National Park to the Bakgatla community with specific reference to the Bakgatla who were relocated from the area where the Park is established. The study is exploratory, and descriptive in nature. Prior to the research there has been some exploratory research of the community at large. The conclusion was that there is a small population of the Bakgatla Bakgafela that resided in the park before the establishment of the Park. In preparation for the formal research and data collection, a questionnaire and interview questions for the focus group were developed for the purpose of collecting data. Only the Bakgatla community members who were relocated from the area where the Park is established were part of the research. Among them there were community leaders, tribal authority leaders and some senior citizen who were interviewed as part of the focus group. Documented data sources were also used for the purpose of gathering information. The result of this study indicates that the Bakgatla community members who were relocated including their children were and are not employed in the Park. It further shows that the socio-economic impact of the Park to the surrounding community is negative because the Park did not add value to the livelihood of the Bakgatla community. The people in the surrounding areas of the Park still live in poverty