LEADING Nelson Mandela Bay tech company Jendamark Automation has announced an investment in conservation which will transform one of the city’s most controversial game parks into a private sanctuary that aims to restore biodiversity and promote wildlife education.

Jendamark, a global exporter of high-tech automotive component assembly systems, purchased the 120-hectare Seaview Predator Park for an undisclosed sum with the intention to develop it into a conservation and rehabilitation centre that will create jobs and act as an outdoor retreat for Jendamark employees, customers, and community groups.

According to Jendamark operations director Siegfried Lokotsch, the Seaview Private Sanctuary, as it is now known, is not a commercial tourism venture and will not be open to the general public.

Lokotsch said Jendamark was in the process of developing a long-term veld and game management plan in consultation with a wildlife veterinarian and environmental specialist.

“We want to understand the biodiversity and do the right thing ecologically in terms of the species that we introduce, the indigenous vegetation and the carrying capacity of the land.

With water for the animals being scarce, rainwater tanks have been installed and a borehole will be sunk to access a steady groundwater supply.

Lokotsch said the first phase of redevelopment would be completed within the next six to 12 months, beginning with high-security electrified fencing to keep out poachers, and keep animals and visitors safe.

The existing facilities, including the restaurant, log cabins, camp sites, ablution blocks and braai areas, will also be upgraded.

“Our vision is to have mountain biking and walking trails criss-crossing the property, so that it becomes a very special outdoor recreational centre that allows people to have close encounters with our incredible wildlife,” said Lokotsch.

“In the next two years, we aim to create 30 to 50 jobs in the local community, assisting with trail building and the removal of alien invasive species such as black wattle, which we will help them bag and sell as braai wood for additional income.”

He said the new investment aligned with the company’s existing sustainability efforts, such as the rooftop solar energy plant powering its manufacturing facility, and its core business of developing assembly solutions for electric vehicle power packs, as well as catalytic converters, which reduce harmful exhaust emissions.

“What we’ve also realised as a tech business is that attracting and retaining specialised skills involves more than money. For the new generation of tech talent, shared values and wellness incentives are just as important as above-market salaries. So, we are constantly thinking of authentic ways to be a good corporate citizen and the employer of choice.”

ABOUT JENDAMARK’S ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

The sustainability of our environment is of critical concern to everyone who shares our planet. As a global manufacturer and industrial leader, Jendamark Automation is committed to playing a positive and dynamic role in combatting climate change.

To achieve our environmental and sustainability goals, we have developed and implemented an enhanced Environmental Policy and Sustainable Procurement Policy. These twin policies guide all our efforts to tread lightly on the earth.  Click here to find out more.