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In March 2003 Ronnie Kasrils announced :  MTO the company which leased the harvesting rights for Tokai and Cecilia forests would retain access to the timber producing sections of the two plantations for the next 70 years. Conservation and commercial timber production would therefore co-exist on the same area, managed in an integrated and mutually beneficial manner by a single management authority.

 

Then after the World Bank / GEF* pledged 23 million USD, it was decided to fast forward the plan 50 years  :

*For exact facts and figures please see :
http://gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfm?projID=134
 http://gefonline.org/projectDetails.cfm?projID=1516

Mrs. Sonjica took over the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and signed the lease contract with MTO. The lease contract limits the timber harvesting to 20 years, but allows MTO to clear-cut much faster than 20 years.

The MTO lease announcement actually states a period of 15 years!

Mrs. Sonjica then signed the lease contract with MTO on the 26.01.2005

Mrs. Sonjica said the owners would pay the department substantial lease rentals, which would be used to compensate successful land claimants.

 

Is R 45000 per year for 1000ha forest substantial ? Well, it will probably cover 2 weeks of Ms. Sonjica´s  salary.

BEE groups snap up state forests
January 26, 2005

"... when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice - you may know that your society is doomed.

Ayn Rand - (1905-1982)