A sports project in the Greater Kruger area aims to build resilience in local communities and bolster nature conservation efforts.
Greater Kruger, South Africa (04 August 2023) – Four young men who live close to the Kruger National Park’s Orpen gate have an opportunity of a lifetime after being invited to travel to Johannesburg to participate in the trials for one of South Africa’s biggest and best-known soccer club – the Orlando Pirates.
This is thanks to a youth sports programme that aims to build social cohesion as an approach to address crime in the Greater Kruger and influence pro-conservation behaviour in youth.
After the training clinic at the Welverdiend Trust, the Orlando Pirate scouts invited four young men to take part in the trials in Johannesburg. The trials took place in mid-July, and the young men were invited to return to Johannesburg for further training and trials during the September school holidays.
The sports programme is a partnership between established community football associations, the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF) and WWF South Africa, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The procurement of soccer kits and equipment has allowed the football associations to expand their reach, and they collectively now have 40 teams with more than 800 soccer players and 43 coaches.
At the end of the training clinic, the scouts announced that four young men were being invited to travel to Johannesburg and participate in the trials for the club.
“This was a historic moment for us,” said Khumalo Gottenberg, Chairperson of the Manyeleti Football Association.
“No one has ever come to us to scout for players. The sports programme made this possible. Everyone is so excited. I see the players wear their jerseys with pride. It is amazing seeing their talent recognised.”
The players come from rural towns and villages on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park where they face many social challenges relating to inequality and unemployment.
“They are bored and frustrated. We see them turn to alcohol, drugs, and crime,” said Gottenberg.
But beyond the excitement of the potential to move on to greater things, the sports programme has a deeper purpose.
“To address wildlife crime and crime in general, we have to look at the landscapes affected holistically and consider the context in which crime occurs. This means we must look beyond the borders where rhinos live and improve the safety, security and well-being of the people living in this integrated landscape too,” explained Lara Rall, Project Implementation and Communications Manager at WWF South Africa.
A recent review by WWF South Africa of community-based approaches to addressing wildlife crime recommended sports as a way of building social cohesion and resilience in communities. It showed that various risk and resilience factors affect individual criminal behaviour, including income inequality, financial and emotional insecurity, exposure to violence and trauma, limited opportunities, frustration, and disrupted social structures. These are all prevalent in Greater Kruger.
“Conversely, growing up and living in a safe and secure environment that is free from violence, where people have access to jobs and education, have good human relationships where they live and work, have freedom and responsibilities, as well as dignity and control over their lives, reduces the chance of criminality, said Rall.
Alby Mnisi, Chairperson of the Welverdiend Football Association, said the sports programme is keeping players busy, healthy, and away from dangerous activities.
“They also entertain our communities. They bring people together when they practice or play games. It creates a sense of belonging.”
GKEPF, which since its inception in 2016 has focused its activities primarily on coordinating anti-poaching responses in the Greater Kruger, have broadened their interest in supporting the different approaches required to address wildlife crime.
“Addressing wildlife crime requires a multi-layered approach,” Sharon Haussmann, Chairperson of GKEPF, said.
“For example, technology can be one of your best tools in anti-poaching, but alone it won’t solve the problem. We need different approaches and initiatives, including community-based approaches such as this youth sports programme, if we are going to make the Greater Kruger a safer place for people and for rhinos.”
For many players, the sports programme has been their first experience of interacting with conservation agencies like the GKEPF or private reserves.
“Through this programme, we had open and honest conversations with our community neighbours. Both parties are very aware of our mutual challenges, especially around crime, which affects all of us,” said Haussmann.
The youth sports programme is now being expanded to add additional football associations and include netball clubs in the Greater Kruger and its reach to include more women.