Boomplantweek en die Internasionale Jaar van Woude - Dendro.co.za

DENDRON » No/Nr: 43 » November 2011
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TSATE HERITAGE SITE IN SEKHUKHUNELAND
REUSE VORM VAN XEroPHytA rEtInErVIS – BOBBEjAANSTERT » Foto Naas Grové
The Tsate Heritage Site in Sekhukhuneland
On our way to visit Tsate on 4-6 February 2011,
I tried to imagine how the area would look like
and how could I contribute to a successful outcome.
In all my years of botanizing I always managed to
by-pass the area and consoling myself with the
promise of one day…!!
That day had come, and it couldn’t have been with a
more friendly and knowledgeable group of people
that I was privileged to be with that weekend. I also
came to realize that every-one of the participants
had something unique to add to the total of the
experience.
I fully agree with what has been written by other
members and therefore I will not duplicate
unnecessarily. I will also concentrate more on
the issues raised by Lizanne Nel regarding the
feasibility of a sustainable and profitable project for
the Tsate community. These are only my personal
thoughts which I offer, regardless of the possibility
of “carrying coal to Newcastle”
Basic strategic thoughts
These thoughts are put down randomly as they
come to mind:
• The Sekhukhuneland Centre of Plant Endemism
boasts 58 endemic, 70 near-endemics and 46
threatened plant species. How many did we see
during the 2 days? It will indeed be a challenge
to be able to show the visitor every single one of
them. Why not cultivate them and plant them in
their respective habitats along a special route?
Then one can advertise! Think of a fenced-off,
dedicated Botanical Reserve and include the
NBI and other Departments of the Government
in the planning and execution of such a project.
This idea might spread to the other centers of
plant endemism
• A “Heritage site” is developed and administered,
and its natural and cultural resources protected,
advertised and shown with pride to visitors. It is
not there to be used up for wood or grazing by
the local community.
• Special attention should be given to the
eradication of all alien and weed species.
• People who come for camping are usually
discerning nature lovers. Well situated,
secluded from the local community and
serviced camping sites is a must. High class,
serviced ablution facilities indicate to the visitor
Hans Vahrmeijer
TSATE HERITAGE SITE IN SEKHUKHUNELAND
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your attitude towards them. Mediocre facilities
tend to be vandalized very quickly.
• The Heritage site is a cultural- historic site for
the Bapedi people, and it should be the Bapedi
who must be the main “marketing focus”. This
means that the site must be enriched in such
a way that the visitor can experience a full or
‘complete’ Pedi cultural experience. A good
development avenue will be the incorporation
of this cultural experience (visit to Tsate) in
the formal curriculum of at least the schools
serving the Bapedi people.
• One of the most underrated attractions is
certainly the “Musical Rocks”. I don’t know their
history, or even if the Bapedi used them. Judging
by the wear on the rocks they must have played
a central role in some cultural activity for many,
many years. An in-depth study should be done
on them by professional scientists and the rocks
should enjoy special protection. If some of the
older Pedi still know how to play them, or some
can teach themselves to do it, it will be a unique
opportunity to produce “ancient” music such as
can be heard nowhere else in the world. This
can become a major draw-card for the project.
• The Heritage site can only be sustainable when
it serves the purpose for which it has been
established and when it is also advantageous to
the community in which it is located.
• With the government’s interest, professional
knowledge of the developers, interest of
various professional bodies and organizations
becoming aware of Tsate, a lot of knowledge,
interest, advice, help, public interest and even
money tend to gravitate towards the project.
These formal and informal resources should be
used to the maximum to achieve the goals.
• In the present times, money-driven, successful
profit centers ‘rules the roost’ and determines
the success or failure of a project like Tsate.
This makes it imperative for Tsate to plan for
such projects.
Possible projects for Tsate
1. Establishing a nursery to legally sell indigenous
plants grown from mother stock in the Endemic
Plant Centre. I am sure Searsia batophylla will be
a horticultural success. I am sure Tsate will be
able to obtain permits to sell rare and endangered
species propagated in their nursery.
2. Planting Dovyalis species like the Kei-apple
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DENDRON » No/Nr: 43 » November 2011