General Manager, Social Science Research, People and Conservation Directorate, South African National Parks
Sibongile has two masters degrees in arts and is now doing a PhD in environmental education through Rhodes University. Among her passions is South Africa’s multifaceted cultural heritage. ‘We don’t do social science for its own sake – it’s about people, with people, for people – to give us a better understanding about who we are as a society and where we’re going,” she says. ‘With cultural heritage sites, our programmes must allow people to reconnect with the spiritual spaces within conservation areas. People should feel that places like Thulamela or Mapungubwe belong to them, that they’re not just for the tourists.
‘By proclaiming areas for conservation, we mustn’t forget that our cultural practices and traditions are also a part of these places. Sustainable use is not just about protecting plants or animals; it’s about our total connection to our environment.”
Sibongile’s pioneering work aims to create a balance between wild places and humans. ‘When grass is growing, we call that biodiversity, but when we put our hands to it, to cut it, it becomes a cultural issue. We must not forget that there’s a close relationship between the two.”