In this episode of Power Chat, Daily Maverick’s Tiara Walters speaks with Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp about the devastating floods that tore through Kruger National Park. With bridges washed away, camps submerged and key routes severed, Aucamp outlines a phased recovery plan and defends the park’s emergency response. But beyond the logistics, the conversation turns personal: for Aucamp, Kruger is more than a conservation asset — it is a refuge and a national symbol he says he will always fight to protect.
Hosted by: Tiara Walters
Guest: Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze
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00:00 Why Kruger Matters: More Than a Park, Part of Our Identity
00:50 Floods Hit Hard: A Year’s Rain in 10 Days
01:56 First Priority: Evacuations, Safety, and a Phased Reopening Plan
03:33 Quick Wins
04:36 The Tough Rebuilds
05:52 Which Camps Are Open vs Closed?
08:04 Northern Kruger Update
08:50 Counting the Cost
10:48 Where the Money Comes From
15:33 Marketing the Fund + Transparency
20:41 Tourism Fallout
24:01 Rebuild for the Future
27:53 Wildlife & Security
30:26 Wrap-Up & Wider Portfolio
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