Rhino Ridge Lodge (Pty) Ltd

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT MEETING WITH THE MPEMBENI COMMUNITY MEMBERS

FOR THE

PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RHINO RIDGE TENTED CAMP WITHIN THE IMFOLOZI PARK (HIP), UMKHANYAKUDE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, KWAZULU-NATAL

MEETING MINUTES

9 July 2019

MEETING FOR: Proposed Rhino Ridge Tented Camp

PLACE: Mpembeni Tribal Court

TIME: 10:00 am – 11:15 am

DATE: 9 July 2019

1. Meeting attendees:

Mr.G Churchill ACER (Africa) Environmental Consultants Ms N. Mkhize ACER Intern Inkosi DJ Hlabisa Mpembeni Tribal Authority and facilitator of meeting Community Members (See attached attendance register)

2. Meeting Minutes

• Inkosi Hlabisa welcomed everyone present and introduced all parties. Inkosi Hlabisa then excused some executive members of the tribal authority as they were unable to attend the meeting. • Inkosi Hlabisa gave a brief project background and explained that this project had been announced to the community previously and well received. • Mr Churchill addressed those present (Inkosi, indunas and community members) and explained that ACER had been appointed to complete all the relevant Environmental Authorisations pertaining to the Rhino Ridge Tented Camp. • Mr Churchill further explained the process of obtaining an environmental authorisation and the stage/phase the project is currently at. Mr Churchill explained that currently, the DBAR is in the process of being drafted and that this meeting is an important part of the environmental authorisation process (public participation) and all proceedings and comments will be included in the report. • Mr Churchill said that the DBAR would then be submitted to the relevant government departments and public offices (for interested and affected parties) for review and that thereafter all stakeholders would be given 30 days to respond and comment on the report before everything is finalised and the final BAR is submitted to DEDTEA. • Mr Churchill then explained that the comment sheets provided by ACER would allow the community members and tribal authority to raise any concerns, questions and opinions and these would be documented. • Inkosi Hlabisa then requested for the comment sheets to be left behind so as to allow all the members of the Mpembeni tribal authority and community members a chance to fill out the comment sheets during a meeting that was to be held (Thursday 11 July 2019), where the project would be discussed further amongst the tribal authority and community members. It was agreed the completed comment sheets could be faxed or emailed to ACER after the meeting. • Inkosi Hlabisa then gave a brief history about the land currently being used by the Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and the proposed Rhino Ridge Tented Camp and how the Mpembeni Tribal Authority, with the support of the Ingonyama Trust, claimed the land from state and had it fenced into Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to allow animals to access water resources.

3. General Discussion and Questions

• Inkosi Hlabisa queried why ACER had stated that the project occurs within the Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Park (HIP) rather than the Mbembeni Community Reserve. Mr Churchill responded saying that the HIP had been used as there is a lease agreement in place and the project now falls within the fenced boundary of the HIP. • The Indunas present as well as the Inkosi enquired about how many people, from the community would be employed for the clearing of vegetation and manual labour during construction. Mr Churchill informed the indunas and Inkosi Hlabisa that as per the agreement with Rhino Ridge Lodge, most of the employees would be drawn from the community for both construction and operation. Mr Churchill did however state that he was not sure how many positions would be made available. • Inkosi Hlabisa then enquired when construction would commence. Mr Churchill informed Inkosi Hlabisa that if there were no delays, the environmental authorisation application process should be completed by December 2019.

4. Meeting closure

• Mr Churchill thanked Inkosi Hlabisa, the community Indunas and community members present for availing themselves for the meeting. • Mr Churchill asked Inkosi Hlabisa and others present if there were any further questions or clarity needed with regards to the project. • Inkosi Hlabisa closed the meeting and thanked the ACER team for engaging with the community.