Kruger Park rename sparks DA ‘Doomsday for Tourism’ warning

Kruger

Cape Town – The DA has condemned a motion passed in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature to change the names of the Kruger National Park and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, calling it “political posturing” that would harm South Africa’s tourism economy.

DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp MP said the motion, brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and supported by the MK and ANC parties, has no legal force.

“No provincial legislature can name or rename geographical features of South Africa. The motion is nothing more than an opinion and has no legal force or effect,” Aucamp said.

He warned that changing the name of South Africa’s most famous national park would be catastrophic for tourism.

“Changing the name of South Africa’s most attractive and defining tourism drawcard would wipe out decades of tourism goodwill and tourist name recognition for the National Park,” Aucamp said.

“This international reputation is what makes the Park a defining attraction for tourists into South Africa who bring with them millions of dollars, euros, yen, yuan, pounds and more to grow our economy and create jobs.”

Aucamp argued that the move would destroy small businesses that rely on tourist spending.

“Every foreign and local tourist to the Kruger National Park spends money in a host of associated businesses such as transfers, accommodation, car hire, local restaurants, guides, drivers and souvenirs,” he said. “Killing these small businesses will leave thousands jobless and without income. This is what the ANC, EFF and MK would do.”

He said the operational cost of such changes would run into millions of rand at local, provincial and national government level.

“Every change from road signs to rebranding, to maps, websites, uniforms and vehicles comes at enormous cost from taxpayer money that South Africa cannot afford,” he said.

Doomsday Coalition

The DA said it is committed to protecting the tourism sector from what it called the “Doomsday Coalition”.

“This is precisely the type of ‘Doomsday Coalition’ politics against which the DA has committed to fight, and which was an essential motivation for us to be part of the GNU – to keep the EFF and MK out,” Aucamp said.

He added that South Africa’s laws require any name changes to follow a national process through the South African Geographical Names Council, not a provincial legislature.

“Because the Kruger National Park spans more than just Mpumalanga, the legislature for that province does not have jurisdiction,” he said. “Even if such a name change made its way to the final approval by the Minister, it is very fortunate that the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries is a DA Minister, Dr Dion George.”

The DA said it rejects efforts by the EFF, MK and ANC to “destroy the tourism economy” of the Kruger National Park and urged “an all hands on deck approach to protect our economy from those who would sacrifice it for politics.”

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