31 October 2007
From today the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, which became South Africa's
first World Heritage Site followed by Robben Island and the Cradle of Humankind
in 1999, has a new but history-rich name.
After an extensive two year consultation process, the iSimangaliso Wetland
Park was approved by Cabinet and gazetted on May 11 this year.
In 2005 we decided for several reasons to embark on finding a new name:
* The consolidated 220 000 ha Wetland Park includes more than a third of the
KwaZulu-Natal coastline (10% of the Republic of South Africa), and jewels like
Kosi Bay, Lake Sibaya, Sodwana Bay, uMkhuze Game Reserve, False Bay, Fanies
Island, Charters Creek, Lake St Lucia, Cape Vidal and Maphelane. This is far
larger than the 98 ha town of St Lucia
* Many people began therefore to feel the Wetland Park had outgrown its
original name.
* The island country of St Lucia in the Caribbean with its own listed World
Heritage Site has a very strong market presence, thus diluting the brand value
of our Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, and causing some global confusion.
Following an extensive public consultative process, the name was gazetted in
terms of Sections 1 and 11 of the World Heritage Convention Act, 1999 on 11 May
this year, effective from 1 November.
The name Lake St Lucia, named by the Portuguese in about1459, as well as
other branded and indigenous names like uMkhuze, Maphelane, Lake Sibiya,
Sodwana Bay, Cape Vidal and Kosi Bay will remain. The word iSimangaliso has a
rich historical context. uJeqe was King uShaka's insila or aide, the keeper of
the King's secrets and customarily buried with him. When uShaka died in 1828,
uJeqe fled to avoid this fate.
He wandered east into Thongaland, which includes today Wetland Park, and
later returned, saying: "I saw wonders and miracles in the flat land and the
lakes of Thonga." From this followed an isiZulu saying: "If you have seen
miracles, you have seen what uJeqe saw: Ubone isimanga esabonwa wuJeqe kwelama
Thonga." So uJeqe could be regarded as one of the first tourists to visit what
is now the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and to appreciate its miracles and
spiritual values - recognised 171 years later by the 176 United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) member countries who
supported its World Heritage Site listing. These include Africa's largest
estuarine system, the tallest forested dunes, the most southerly coral reefs,
the renowned turtle-nesting beaches and the marine canyons in which South
Africa's first living coelacanths were found.
The description of Wetland Park has therefore been retained and linked with
the isiZulu word. We are truly excited to have this new name for 2010 and
beyond. The iSimangaliso Authority - as it will also be renamed - is launching
an imaginative modern icon to launch the branding / marketing drive to take
this unique and beautiful region to new heights. iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Authority CEO Andrew Zaloumis says "We are happy to have a name at last. We can
now, together with our partners and communities, get on with the job of
building a strong market presence for the Park."
Please contact Debbie Cooper for a copy of the new logo at 082 940 3360.
A new icon for the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Along with the new name comes a new icon for the Simangaliso Wetland Park to
be used in signage, branding, marketing and communications.
Several factors influenced its design:
* World Heritage values including geographical uniqueness, spiritual values
and sense of place
* the perfect balance and proportions within nature
* the role people and cultures have played - and continue to play: local
communities, employees, and visitors
* the interaction of people with nature and the yin and yang balance.
Rationale
Water - one of the most basic components of life. Evoking a distinctive,
globally valued, landscape of clear seas, lakes, pans, rivers and
estuaries.
Nature - a mathematical or geometric pattern is inherent in natural design
including 60 million year old fossil ammonites, unfurling fern frond, the way a
chameleons' tail curls.
Sun - life is ultimately dependent on energy from the sun, which is captured
by green plants which are the basis of the food chain for all life on
earth.
People - vibrant and directional. People are an integral part of the
landscape and future of the park.
The triangle formed by the red sides and yellow bow represents a dynamic,
forward-moving organisation.
Diamond shape - a pattern providing great structural strength, symbolising
power strength, brilliance and unparalleled beauty. It also echoes the diamond
shape in World Heritage icon.
But, like the 'sense of place' identified with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park
during the mining debate, the icon can mean different things to different
people.
Use of the new name, other than as a geographic description in a sentence,
is regulated by the iSimangaliso Wetland Authority. Permission to use the name,
logo and brand in any other context has to be obtained beforehand in writing
from the Authority.
Enquiries:
Riaan Aucamp
Cell: 083 778 9923
Debbie Cooper
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Cell: 082 940 3360
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
31 October 2007
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (http://www.environment.gov.za)
