Call for nominations to serve on the CapeNature Board is now open. Four Board appointments (two Finance Management, one Biodiversity Conservation and one Human Resource Management will be effective from 30 August 2024; while a further two Board appointments (Corporate Governance, and Eco-tourism and Biodiversity Economy) will be effective from 15 June 2025. Nominations close on 28 July 2024.

CapeNature is a Schedule 3C public Entity responsible for the conservation of biodiversity in the Western Cape. It discharges this mandate in terms of Schedule 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, which sets out functional areas of concurrent national and provincial legislative competence.

In terms of Section 15 of the Western Cape Biodiversity Act 6 of 2021, interested parties are invited to nominate candidates for appointment by the Western Cape Provincial Minister responsible for environmental affairs (the “Minister”).

• Giving effect to the obligation of the State to act as a trustee in protecting and conserving the natural environment in the Western Cape, including the long-term ecological sustainability and resilience of biodiversity, ecosystem services and ecological infrastructure.

• Ensuring human well-being and the long-term resilience of society and the economy through the conservation of the natural environment.

• Enabling reasonable and sustainable access to benefits and opportunities emanating from the conservation of the natural environment.

• Establishing institutional structure and organisational capacity for the effective discharge of conservation in the Western Cape.

• Enabling and developing an equitable and sustainable biodiversity economy, including the promotion and development of eco-tourism in areas under CapeNature’s control.

• Financial Management: Effectiveness of financial and internal control systems as well as audit principles and practices; Working knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act. *Please note that applicants must have a Chartered Accounting qualification with at least 10 years commercial experience.

• Human Resource Management: Performance management, Talent attraction and optimisation; Recruitment and selection; Employee relations.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Knowledge on ecosystem goods and services, ecological infrastructure; natural and cultural heritage; community conservation and development; environmental education and awareness. All of these should be specifically of the greater Cape Floristic Kingdom.

• Eco-Tourism and Biodiversity Economy: Tourism-related business; Revenue generation (including fundraising); International and domestic eco-tourism; Responsible and sustainable tourism practice and community access; Strategic partnership development and brand promotion.

• Corporate Governance: Risk and performance management; Legal; ICT; and implementation of King IV principles.

• A nominee must be in good standing within the community.
• A nominee must be a resident of the Western Cape.
• A nominee may not be an employee of CapeNature, nor be in the service of the State and receive remuneration for that appointment or service, nor be a member of the Provincial Parliament.
• A nominee must be prepared to disclose to the Minister particulars of all registrable financial interests.
• A nominee may not be a person who has been declared insolvent by a competent court.
• A nominee may not be a person who has been declared of unsound mind by a competent court.
• A nominee should not have been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine.

• Attend and participate at the fixed schedule of Board Committee meetings (four meetings per year per Board Committee).
• Attend and participate in five Board meetings for the year.
• Attend and participate in ad hoc Board Committee and/or Board meetings, as and when required.
• Prepare for all meetings to be attended.

Members are remunerated for services rendered and reimbursed for all reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings.

Please note that four Board appointments (two Finance Management, one Biodiversity Conservation and one Human Resource Management will be effective from 30 August 2024; while a further two Board appointments (Corporate Governance, and Eco-tourism and Biodiversity Economy) will be effective from 15 June 2025.

Nominations must be sent to lschoonraad@capenature.co.za. The following documents are required for the nominations:

• A signed letter from the interested party making the nomination including the following details:
  • Name, residential and postal address, and telephone number of the nominator.
  • Reasons why the nominee is considered to be a fit and proper person to be appointed as a member of the Board.
• A signed letter from the nominated candidate including the following details: 
  • The name, residential and postal address and telephone number of the nominated candidate.
  • Accepted nomination.
• A complete and detailed Curriculum Vitae including qualifications, knowledge and experience of the nominated candidate.

To promote representivity within the Board, nominations of candidates from the designated groups, especially of women and people with disabilities are particularly invited. The status of the nominees to this effect must be clearly stated on the nominations to expedite the appointment process.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE AT 17H00 ON 28 JULY 2024.

Enquiries can be submitted to Ms Parkar at zparkar@capenature.co.za or 087 087 3211.