SANParks has announced that survival equipment to the value of R1.5 million was handed over at a ceremony in Phalaborwa on October 31. 
Major General Johan Jooste, Commanding Officer, Special Projects for South African National Parks, and representatives of the Ranger Corps were on hand to receive the equipment. The donation was made possible by the Unite Against Poaching Trust and the SANParks Honorary Rangers.
The donation comprises basic and specialist equipment that is needed by the men and women of the Ranger Corps within the Kruger National Park. It includes survival tools such as tents, camp mattresses, torches, sleeping bags, knives, groundsheets, ponchos, water bottles, cooking equipment, headlamps, mosquito nets, medical equipment and GPSs.  
Rangers spend extended periods in the bush in clandestine operations to fight the poachers. The survival equipment is needed to enable them to perform these duties effectively.
The Funding for the Unite Against Poaching Trust is generated primarily from a Unitrans Volkswagen corporate pledge. For every vehicle sold, both new and pre-owned, in the 10 participating dealerships countrywide, funds are pledged to the Unite Against Poaching Trust. Since its inception three years ago, the trust has donated more than R8 million towards anti-poaching projects in national parks. 
Honorary Rangers is the official volunteer organisation of SANParks. Through their close working relationship with the SANParks counter-poaching unit they know where the priority needs are.  Because the Honorary Rangers are unpaid volunteers, no funds are used for administration and every cent donated towards counter poaching is utilised solely for this purpose, said SANParks.