Implementation Update: 6 December 2007

www. dinokengbig5.com

Thursday, 6 December 2007

IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE – United we stand……..

Dear Landowner,

It is with regret that we accept the resignation of Mr James Harding – Chairman of the Game and Ecology sub-committee and vice chairman of the Dinokeng Management Association.  He will continue to be listed as a non-portfolio member, in an advisory capacity, of the Landowner’s Association EXCO.  We wish him well for his trip away and hope to welcome him back within the next year.  His contribution and dedication have been much appreciated and we will miss him.

Ecological, legal, human resource, infrastructure development and planning, community liaison, financial and business planning acumen are urgently required by both the EXCO and the Management Association.  Should you wish to volunteer, on a co-opted full time or part time basis please contact admin@dinokengbig5.com.  You will be gratefully welcomed.

1.       On the 24^th November a “pre-fence removal” meeting was held for the Phase A1 south landowners at Kwalata. 20 landowners took advantage of the opportunity to discuss the Implementation procedure with the EXCO and Management Association members.  Feedback on game grids, fence removal procedures, dangerous game protocol, game introductions, draft house rules, fencing in of homesteads and servant’s quarters, trespassing, fence maintenance patrols, anti-poaching, Eastern Expansion, Clause 3 waver documents, and e-mail communication matters were discussed.  The minutes of the meeting will be circulated and placed on the web site.

2.     The perimeter fence has been handed over to the landowners to care for, patrol and maintain.  Due to restricted finances the EXCO committee decided that the most cost effective way to patrol and maintain the fence was by quad bike;  Some of the fence is impassable by ordinary vehicles during the rainy season.  We have been fortunate to employ two of the Siyaya staff, an expert in electric fence maintenance (Lario) as well as an experienced worker (Moses, who comes from our local community).

The quad bike (dark green) has been governed to reduce noise, prevent excess speeds and increase worker safety.  They will soon have uniforms with the DB5 logo on them to assist with identification.  In the interim, they carry one of Lynn ’s business cards.  Please feel free to welcome them if they are on your property.  Should you experience any problems or have any questions, they can be forwarded to admin@dinokengbig5.com or communicated to Lynn (083 885 6577).

3.     There are still a number of documents outstanding (both DLIO’s and clause 3 wavers).  Delays in submission are hampering forward planning and progress.  Dinokeng Blue IQ are unable to proceed with the infrastructure until this matter has been addressed.  Additional requirements such as the establishment of the Game Management Company, the issuing of landowner shares for participation, registration with the SARS and finalization of the agreement between the Management Company and the Game Company are also delaying progress.  As soon as this red tape has been attended to infrastructure such as the Main gate construction and the Eastern Expansion will progress.

4.     Ronel from Nokeng Eco lodge, who on a voluntary basis, created and maintains our fantastic web site www.dinokengbig5.com, has been unwell, delaying updates to the web.  We wish her a speedy return to health and thank her for the work done on our behalf to date.

5.     The fencing contractors and GAUTRANS have promised us that the construction for the Boekenhoutkloof grid can finally proceed.  Delays due to engineering gremlins, GAUTRAIN, weather etc will hopefully be behind us soon.  In anticipation, GAUTRANS have erected the signs for the grids and the pleasure evidenced by Landowners stopping at the non-existent grid and abiding by the speed control in anticipation of the fences being removed is heartening evidence of continued enthusiasm and support despite the disappointing delays.

6.     You are all reminded that dangerous game ( Buffalo ) will be loose on the reserve as soon as the fences have been dropped and urge you to notify your staff.  Any pedestrians will be at risk and pick up and drop off arrangements will need to be made to transport workers.  The removal of the fences does not give pedestrian traffic the right to take a short cut – please stress that workers still need to travel to and from work on the existing servitude roads.

Once the fences along the roads have been removed, wild animals will roam freely across these roads. A speed limit of 60 kph on main roads and 40 kph on secondary roads will be imposed for people and animal safety.

The speed limits pertaining to the DB5 roads will be enforced by the Local Authority and other State Law Enforcement Agencies.

5.     The meeting with Nature Conservation was a success.  Plans to register our reserve as a protected area – nature reserve can proceed.  This will mean that your property is registered and protected by the Government and cannot be used for any other purpose; protecting it in the years to come and making our reserve a valuable asset to pass on to your children’s children. It will also require that any “island” properties will need to be registered before they can be incorporated into the reserve – a lengthy process without Blue IQ assistance.

6.     Landowners are, once again, reminded of their contractual obligations to their employees, as per the Dinokeng Land Incorporation Agreement –

Clause 13.3 The Landowner agrees that it shall fence off, at its cost, that area of its Land comprising the housing area for all its employees and labour.

Clause 13.4 The Landowner shall be responsible for the Safety of its employees and absolves the Association, ManCo and GameCo from any liability and damages that may be caused by any wild animals.

7.     The community contractor who has been assisting with fence removals has advised us that due to the overgrown, dilapidated state of many of the fences he has been unable to recover the cost of removal with the fencing material he obtains.  He has quoted us

The scrap metal dealer is not interested in the wire component but only in the droppers, Y-Standards and straining and corner posts as scrap metal. People in the community aren’t interested in the wire component either as they fence their properties with diamond mesh or similar.  It is the landowner’s obligation to remove the fences – the sooner the better.  Please contact Lynn (083 885 6577) should you wish to be put in contact with the contractor.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful, restful and satisfying festive season.

Till next month….