58 veterans to keep zoo safer

10 more recruits added to also look after the Nahoon estuary

BUFFALO City Metro council has approved the deployment of military veterans to safeguard against “illegal activities” at the East London Zoo and Nahoon Marine Estuary until June.

This forms part of the metro’s continued partnership with the national Department of Public Works after the Coastal Protection Services programme was piloted last year.

In the new deal, the metro has increased the number of rangers from 48 to 58 “due to the demand for deployment of rangers in new areas, deployment at the zoo and Nahoon marine estuary”, city manager Andile Sihlahla said in a report tabled in council.

The Daily Dispatch reported last year that the programme meant that beach-goers could relax a bit more during the festive season, thanks to the addition of military veterans tasked with guarding key areas of the coast.

The programme was funded by the national Department of Public Works, which injected R2.46-million into an initiative that saw the military veterans guard against “illegal act along the coast from Kiwane (near Tyolomnqa) to Kwelerha.

As part of the job, they conduct patrols, check for valid fishing permits and guard against poachers.

Their visibility is crime in the areas.

“The national Department of Public Works have allocated funding for the 2017-2018 [financial year] on condition that council approves extension of phase one until 2018,” said Sihlahla.

“The initial number of 48 participants will be increased to 58 participants.

“The increased number is due to the demand for deployment of rangers in new areas – deployment at the zoo and Nahoon Marine Estuary,” he said. also aimed at reducing

For the continuation of the project, Public Works has allocated R2.5-million.

Mayoral committee member Helen NealeMay said the veterans would help protect animals and the botanical garden at the zoo.

“This is for the conservation of the environment. We are starting to look after the garden. We have peacocks there where people have pulled out feathers, so having the veterans there assists with animals and the plants too,” said Neale-May.

“It is a good project. They are doing a good job and we need to accept [approve] it,” she said.

Deputy mayor Zoliswa Matana said: move to approve the request.”

The council agreed to approve — the “I so continuation.