| In 1996, the then Premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sexwale, announced a project to develop a Big 5 game reserve in the area north-east of Pretoria. The Provincial Government’s vision was to capitalise on, and develop, tourism through the creation of a significant game reserve, which would bring employment and economic development to poorer communities in the province. All capital expenditure to establish the reserve has been funded by government as part of its facilitative contribution to creating the Dinokeng Big-5 Game Reserve.
The DB-5 reserve is a unique concept where private landowners have agreed to their land being incorporated into a game reserve, and government will support the expenditure on infrastructure to create the reserve. Landowners retain their landownership and benefit from developing their own tourism facilities and services, particularly beds, on their land holdings, and also from game related reserve income. Government achieves economic development, job creation and stimulation of tourism via a conservation initiative, without having to purchase significant land to form a reserve.
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