Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille: Save the Cango Caves

The Cango Caves are caught in the crossfire of political upheaval and corruption, a lack of sound management and financial security which could lead to the permanent closure of the Cango Caves and heavy financial losses for a large portion of the Little Karoo’s community, which is reliant on the yearly generation of R20 million in tourism revenue from the caves.

The questionable removal of R16 million from the caves investment fund by the Oudtshoorn Municipality last year, an unapproved management plan, the disbanding of its scientific committee, a pending court case on a botched tender process and unpaid supplier accounts have left the Cango Caves in a dire situation that according to staff will mean closure to the public within the year if corrective measures are not instituted.Oudtshoorn’s May by-elections have replaced the ANC dominated council with that of the DA, however the ANC refuses to step down. Allegations from Oudtshoorn’s business and tourism sector are that the millions syphoned from the Cango Caves account have been used on legal fees by the ANC to keep themselves in power.

We call for the following:
- immediate reinstatement of the scientific advisory committee, in line with the National Heritage Resources Action
- a high-profile and completed investigation into the missing R16m and lack of maintenance
- escalation (to national level) of the failure of the ANC to step down graciously from the municipality.
- a solid and sustainable system for the future management and protection of the Cango Caves

See more at:
http://africageographic.com/blog/cango-caves-faces-imminent-closure/#sthash.rqlEG69K.tGHVHGC6.dpuf

Written by Melissa Reitz for the Conservation Action Trust