iSimangaliso Wetland Park, is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is renowned for its rich biodiversity and varied ecosystems, including wetlands, coastal dunes and coral reefs. It was designated as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in 1999. The park encompasses 48 indigenous communities living in and around the protected area, including 14 indigenous fishing (SSF) communities who have lived in and around the area for generations.
The third case presented at the Fisher People Tribunal called ‘Isimangaliso and the Violence of the Conservation Fortress’ aimed at exposing the human rights violations faced by fisherfolk and further emphasised the role of tourism and international environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) in relation to conservation efforts. The testimonies from fisher representatives in KZN highlighted the ongoing struggles of fisher people to practice their livelihoods activities. The extent of violence in iSimangaliso has left many families seeking justice for their loved ones.
The Tribunal highlighted that fishers need to be included in co-management of iSimangaliso, while ensuring the protection of fishers rights to food, culture and freedom of trade and reparations to the victims and families of the ranger violence. Bongani Mdluli resides in a coastal community called Nibela in KwaZulu-Natal. He is a fisherman who learned how to fish from a very young age. He is the brother of the late Celimpilo Mdluli, who tragically lost his life in 2020 after being shot by rangers at St Lucia Lake while fishing with two other fishermen.
“My brother was shot then he fell down, Mduduzi ran away and then Senzo was also shot in the leg then they ran away but not that far in a place where they could hear the noise they heard my brother crying because he was already down. When he was crying he was asking for help and pleading with them (rangers) not to kill him. But they continued killing him,” said Bongani during his testimony. Three years since the killing of Celimpilo, nothing has been done to bring justice to their family
In addition, women are not exempt from the harassment and violence experienced in the wetland park. Zandile Mkhwanazi from Mtubatuba in St Lucia, explained that the challenges they face are intense, as the threat of getting arrested to provide for their families increases, “We get arrested when we cut incema (grass). We are forced to go during the night so that we are not caught but that is difficult because there are also animals in the park” said Zandile.
It is important to recognise that the trauma caused by rangers on fishers has left an indelible mark and during the Tribunal it was urged that there needs to proper training and regulation of rangers in order to engage with community members. ENGOs play an important role in shaping conservation policies and practices by acting as intermediaries between governments, local communities, and international stakeholders. They advocate for sustainable development and environmental protection through lobbying, research, and participation in policy-making. However, their approaches marginalise local communities and highlight the imbalance between conservation efforts and community rights.