Gumede honoured with lifetime award
The WESSA awards, which have been presented since 1974, enable WESSA to recognise and honour those who have make a significant contribution to the conservation or environmental education sector in South Africa
AT the recent Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) awards ceremony, Mdiceni Gumede, now 85 years old, received a Lifetime Achievement award.
The WESSA awards, which have been presented since 1974, enable WESSA to recognise and honour those who have make a significant contribution to the conservation or environmental education sector in South Africa.
Born in the iMfolozi Game Reserve, Mdiceni was employed by the Natal Veterinary Services during the campaign to eradicate the Tsetse fly.
At the end of the successful campaign, he joined the then Natal Parks Game and Fisheries Board.
There he worked with Dr Ian Player and Sergeant Magqubu Ntombela.
Mdiceni was transferred to the Lake St Lucia Game Reserve in 1959 as the reserve sergeant, where he served with honour and integrity for 15 years.
He retired from the Natal Parks Board and joined the Wilderness Leadership School as a full-time guide on the trails in iMfolozi Game Reserve.
This he did with distinction until he retired to his farm where open-cast coal mining at Somkhele replaced his traditional cattle grazing area, leaving him and local residents with health challenges.
Mdiceni still leads occasional trails for schools, and with support he is currently recording his game ranger experiences.
He is a living legend, one of the last dedicated isiZulu traditional conservationists.
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