somkhanda community development

Somkhanda Community Development Universities of California & Durban University of Technology

Goal

Assess how Somkhanda Game Reserve affects the employees, their households, as well as the

surrounding communities economically, socially, and

educationally.

Method

Surveyed and interviewed 38 employees of Somkhanda Game

Reserve and 49 randomly selected community members from

Cottlands, Hlambinyathi, Candover, Zonyama, and Sovane

Process

Data gathered on:Demographic characteristics and

household size Employment historyEducational opportunities General understanding of

conservation activities and impacts of the reserve

Male49%

Female51%

Employee Household Adults

Male46%Female

54%

Non-Employee Household Adults

Under 18

46%Age 18-

5949%

Age 60+6%

Non-Employee Households

Age Composition

Under 18

42%Age 18-59

55%

Age 60+4%

Employee Households

Age Composition

Personal Income Employees stated that their expenses exceed their salary,

creating difficulties saving money Purchasing food was the primary use of salary

Employees and Non-Employees grow food and have livestock – very dependent on time of year and water availability

Other than income from Somkhanda, sources of income are limited Vast majority have no other sources of income Examples of other income: crafters, street vendors, traditional

healers Combined income often does not meet the needs of

household

Only 1 Em-

ployed44%

More than 1 Em-

ployed56%

Employee House-holds

Adult Employment

0 Em-

ployed

33%

Only 1 Employed

47%

More than 1 em-

ployed

20%

Non-Employee Households

Adult Employment

Pensi

ons P

er Hou

sehold

Child G

rants

Per H

ouseh

old0.00.51.01.52.02.53.0

0.6

2.5

Non-Employee Households

Pensi

ons P

er Hou

sehold

Child G

rants

Per H

ouseh

old0.00.51.01.52.02.53.0

0.4

2.2

Employee Households

Education

Primary school is typically easily accessed but lack of finances and transportation make attending high school difficult Many students drop out which affects future

employment opportunities Other reasons for lack of education include: death

of parents, lack of finances, low priority in homes, pregnancy

Not many opportunities for training Opportunities available are limited to those who have

completed Grade 12

Less than

8 years35%

8 to 11 years31%

12 or more34%

Non-Employee Households

Adult Educational Attainment

Less than

8 years38%

8 to 11 years29%

12 or more34%

Employee Households

Adult Educational Attainment

Views on Conservation

Responses about the use of land were mixed, regardless of employment status some believed a game reserve was the best

use of the land others thought part of the land could be used

for agriculture or grazing livestock

Somkhanda’s Impact on Local Communities

A majority of interviewees felt that only employees benefited from the reserve

Non-employees were unclear about the purpose and functions of the reserve.

Expressed lack of communication widely felt on many levels Some community members felt their concerns weren’t

being heard Desires for greater and better distributed job

opportunities, infrastructure improvements, and support for school children

Employee Concerns

Inadequate housingLack of proper equipment and personnel for

efficient securityPromises of training and certification not metUncertainty about extent of employment contractsLack of knowledge and instruction about

conservation Inability to afford necessities and difficulty saving

Recommendations to Improve Staff Relations

Greater communication and participation with all staff

Greater accountability for the recommendations employees have to the management

Create more realistic expectations clearly i.e. staff receiving certifications

Create a more structured work environment Improvements to salary and job safety

Recommendations to Improve Community

RelationsCreate community spaces and/or meetings to

improve communications and encourage engagement with the entire community

Revisit hiring practices and make them more readily available to the community when jobs are available

Create more clear expectations about game reserve ownership

Products (i.e. meat) from the reserve should be more available to the wider community

Comments or Questions??