Nkomazi youth demand jobs at Kruger National Park

In Nkomazi, a group of young people who are struggling to find work have marched to the Kruger National Park’s Malelane Gate, delivering a letter of complaints. They have accused the park’s management of disregarding young people when job opportunities arise. The protestors claim they have been applying for work without any luck for years.

The young individuals are now requesting that they be given priority in employment at the park. They also accused the management of nepotism and expressed a desire for the Kruger National Park to consider young entrepreneurs for tenders. Those present said they have been searching for job opportunities over the years. One of them explained, “We’ve been seeing posts, we are applying, but we are not being employed.

So, that is why we came here today, to cry and tell them that we are not happy that every year we are busy applying, but we don’t see anyone around our place coming here to work.” Another participant stated, “I have experience as a reservations consultant in hospitality. We’ve come here today with the hope that we’ll get answers on how the application processes are going since we’ve been applying for a long time.”

In response to the youth’s demands, a spokesperson from the Kruger National Park, Rey Thakhuli, denied the allegations of being overlooked for employment. Thakhuli stated that the park has received the memorandum and is taking it back to the relevant authorities to respond within the 14-day period given. He mentioned that the park has a database showing that there are indeed people from Nkomazi working in the park.

However, he added that the information has not reached the youth, and they will ensure that it does. Thakhuli also assured that any available opportunities will be shared equally among all residents living near the park.

March organizer, Sibusiso Mhlanga, expressed the group’s goal of seeing more young people secure employment at local farms, businesses, and the Kruger National Park by the end of next year. He emphasized that while the park claims to have a database, only 5% of its 100 entries represent individuals residing adjacent to the park.

Mhlanga claimed that witnessing the park firsthand for even a day would make one understand the protestors' grievances. He said, “They have a database, as they say, but then it’s 5% out of 100. So, we do not appreciate that. If you just take a walk inside the park yourself, without any command, just be there for a day, you’ll understand our cries.

So, they’re just defending themselves. They know very well. They cannot say that in media or anywhere, because it will look very unfair to them.”

The Kruger National Park has been given 14 days to respond to the grievances raised by the young people.