Dept to negotiate on Indalo Yethu Trust dissolution

Indalo Yethu was established to serve as an institution with the objective of developing and implementing the National Environmental Awareness Campaign.

The trust was to serve as an endorsement brand, conduct extensive communication, marketing and outreach campaign, establish and/or enter into partnerships, and generate the income required to enable the smooth running of the trust.

The core founders of the trust were the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Department spokesperson Albi Modise said that it was envisaged that the trust would be able to generate sufficient income, through eco-endorsement, to fund the operations of the trust after two years of being established.

However, one of the main conclusions drawn from the review done by the department was that the cost of compliance with regard to statutory requirements associated with a stand-alone entity and the operations of the trust could not be supported from the funds allocated for this purpose.

"As it was never the intention of the department to fund the operations of Indalo Yethu in perpetuity, it was decided to discuss the possible dissolution of the trust with its trustees. If the dissolution is not agreed to, the department will nevertheless formally withdraw its continued funding from the trust, following the withdrawal of WESSA," Modise explained.

He said the department believed that the dissolution of the trust should not hamper the objectives for which the trust was set up, as similar work was already being done by the department and its partners.

"These might be expanded on in the future," said Modise.