In a pioneering move for successful land negotiations in South Africa, Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) has signed a mutually beneficial land deal for Phinda Private Game Reserve to restore ownership of the land back to the local communities.

Meaning ‘The Return’ in Zulu, Phinda has come full circle since its inception in 1991; firstly returning degraded farmland into a pristine Big Five game reserve, and a mere 16 years later returning the land to its original occupiers.

When CC Africa was first informed of a gazetted land claim for two-thirds of Phinda’s land in 2002 the initial reaction was to oppose it. Legal counsel was sought and land consultants hired to take aerial photographs of the Reserve and to prove that the claim was invalid.

After further consideration, CC Africa’s CEO, Steve Fitzgerald, decided that although it was imperative for CC Africa to own the business to ensure ongoing profitable ecotourism at Phinda, it was not necessarily crucial to own the land. Thus negotiations began with community leaders to discuss how a mutually beneficial deal could be achieved.

There were three possible outcomes: the community would be compensated for land; the land owners would get compensated and the land returned to the communities; or alternative land would be set aside for the communities.

Phinda’s Regional Director, Kevin Pretorius,and Fitzgerald met with Inkosi (Chief) Gumede, the Makhasa community leader, who was gravely concerned that compensation was not a sustainable long-term solution for his people. Inkosi Ngwanwe from Mnqobokazi was in agreement with Gumede and therefore an alternative solution was sought.

“It has always been our dream to return Phinda’s land to the community but obviously in a way that also benefits CC Africa. We realised that the best way forward for all concerned was to support the land claim and then to lease the land back from the communities on an annual basis to ensure ongoing sustainability”, said Steve Fitzgerald.

As both the ‘claimant’ and the ‘occupier’ accepted the land claim, it became valid and negotiations with Government began. Years of discussion ensued to decide on an acceptable payout for a thriving Big Five game reserve and an amount of R268-million with a 72-year lease was finally agreed to.

As part of this settlement, CC Africa will pay each of the communities an upfront amount of R9 million in order to facilitate their ability for joint ventures with CC Africa in the future. A considerable amount will also be paid to the communities annually for lease of the land.

“We have spent many years fostering this incredible environment of co-habituation which will result in wildlife conservation in perpetuity. This commercially viable solution was only possible due to the trust engendered by CC Africa and our social development arm, Africa Foundation, with the communities surrounding Phinda over the last 16 years; schools and clinics have been built; small businesses developed; university bursaries granted and numerous jobs created, to name a few”, said Steve.

This groundbreaking agreement proves that if the communities surrounding conservation areas truly feel the benefit of ecotourism, they too will support the ongoing conservation and biodiversity of pristine reserves for the benefit of future generations.