Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), custodians of open spaces in the City of Joburg, has been accredited to the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) and has obtained its second successive ‘Clean Audit’ for the 2017/18 Financial Year.
“The recent announcement by the Auditor General that Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo attained a clean audit, coupled with the confirmation by WAZA that the Joburg Zoo has had its accreditation reinstated, is testimony to an entity committed to complying with the requirements of the Municipal Finances Management Act and to the ethical management of the Joburg Zoo,” stated the Member of the Mayoral Committee of Community Development, Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba.
Managing Director, Bryne Maduka commended all employees who worked tirelessly to uphold the professional and ethical standards required by WAZA and with respect to the attainment of a clean audit.
He reaffirmed that obtaining a clean-audit is part of a new roadmap for JCPZ to gain public trust by becoming prudent and efficient to effect service delivery excellence.
Maduka maintains that, “the clean audit for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is an indication of sound financial management, strengthened governance and oversight, stricter compliance with regulatory frameworks and closer monitoring of integrated performance management processes”.
Just as important, added Maduka, “Is the critical need to instill a culture of ownership and accountability across all levels of the organization. This is to enable every staff member to fully comprehend the developmental role they play, in supporting the mandate of local government in South Africa”.
The re-admittance of the Joburg Zoo to WAZA follows from the suspension of its membership in 2013. The membership ensures that all zoos comply with a strict code of ethics aimed at regulating and improving professional standards. It also ensures that the Joburg Zoo adheres to good animal welfare practices, has a functional ethics committee and practices ethical animal exchange programmes to benefit conservation and education.
WAZA is the globally accredited organization with ethical oversight of conservation action in over 50 countries, and has over 400 active members.
The accreditation to WAZA will help the 115-year old Joburg Zoo foster cooperation amongst other accredited zoological gardens and aquaria, enrich management practices, encourage the highest standards of animal welfare and husbandry, and promote environmental education, wildlife conservation and environmental research.
“The Joburg Zoo is thankful to our African partners, who supported the Joburg Zoo in its efforts to being re-admitted with special appreciation to the National Zoological Gardens, the Ugandan Wildlife Education Center and the South African Association for Marine Biological Research (SAAMBR)”, stated an elated MMC Sifumba.
The membership will allow Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to:
1. Achieve its goal of becoming an industry leader and a centre of excellence in animal welfare, biodiversity research, conservation and education;
2. Enable the entity to trade with other Zoos for animals that are on the ZIMS Studbook (Zoos Management Information Systems Studbook that lists animals which are critically endangered and must be protected);
3. Contribute and participate in conservation programs, at a regional and an international level;
4. Participate in the international keeper’s programmes;
5. Re-establish and strengthen existing relations with the world’s leading zoos and aquaria; and
6. Share and learn best practices in animal welfare, environmental education, and zoo research initiatives.
Maduka reaffirmed, “that the organization will not become complacent on the backdrop of these successes, and reassured residents that the core team will be working through the festive period, with contingencies in place, to deal with seasonal concerns”.
Issued by
Councillor Nonhlanhla Sifumba
The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development
City of Joburg
For more information and media enquiries, please contact:
Jenny Moodley
Spokesperson: Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo
T: 011 712-6600/082 8030 748/082 906 1515
E: jmoodley@jhbcityparks.com
W: www.jhbcityparks.com
