To whom it may concern,
I Lizel Oosthuizen became an Honorary Ranger and a member of the Magalies Region in Pretoria in 2017. I joined the SHR because I grew up in a small town called Sabie near the Kruger National Park and was raised with a passion and love for the Kruger.
As the Magalies Region is an avid supporter of the K9 initiatives, I was honoured when the Magalies Region elected me to become the K9 coordinator for the Region in 2018 and thereafter I was elected to take up a position on the National K9 Project Watchdog initiative.
After I joined the K9 Project watchdog management team, I was elected as the Vice Chair and asked to focus on the fundraising initiatives.
The first fundraising event in 2019 that my firm Lombard & Partners Inc and I organised with the assistance of the Magalies Region SHR’s was held at the Advocate’s Chambers in Hazelwood, Pretoria. This event took the form of an auction with incredible artwork and donated experiences that were auctioned off. The international author Tony Park was the evening’s guest speaker, and the auction raised more than R100 000.
In 2021 the second larger fundraiser was organised by my firm Lombard & Partners Inc with the assistance of the Magalies SHR’s and K9 Management Committee which included a golf day at the Pretoria Country Club and an auction which raised approximately R240 000. Several celebrities attended the evening which helped to boost the coffers.
A third event was organised in 2023 which was the biggest fundraiser yet. The event started with a golf day at the Pretoria Country Club and culminated in an evening function at the Golf club which included an auction of artwork and other donated experiences. Special guest speakers Gen Jooste and International author Tony Park were present and discussed the issues facing the anti-poaching initiatives. This event raised approximately R500 000 towards the K9 Project Watchdog initiative. This was again facilitated by Lombard & Partners Inc.
Myself and the K9 MC tend to other initiatives regarding fundraising and have regular discussions with potential donors and like-minded people to support the K9 Project Watchdog.
With behind-the-scenes experiences that we have sold on these Golf days and the Rhino dehorning, an enormous amount of funds was raised and by having our donors directly involved in the process they continue to participate and support our project. – This was achieved with assistance and support of Magalies Region as well as the K9 MC.
In between all these activities, I am personally involved with the working weekends of the Magalies Region at the K9 centre near Phabeni where we have completed several projects. This includes applying a specialist paint used by NASA on the roof of the kennels, which reduces the temperature in the kennels.
The recently completed Kingfisherspruit kennels and the newly erected fence was funded by money raised by the Magalies Region.
I’m also involved with the various existing and new members in the Magalies Region about participating and supporting the K9 Project Watchdog.
I also feel obliged to be involved in the whole process from the inception of the HRS appointment with regards to the K9 project as well as completing the training and ultimately doing duty at the K9 centre.
When I joined I decided to volunteer my time, my love for animals as well as my photography skills towards the betterment and future of our Park. As an avid nature photographer, I provided the K9 Project Watchdog as well as Magalies Region with various photographs of our work weekends and also images of the dogs for the use of advertising material and Social media.
I also felt the need to become involved in antipoaching and am passionate about preserving our wildlife for the future. Our generation must make a significant difference in protecting wildlife and more specifically the endangered animals, abalone, plants etc.
My love for dogs further cemented my contribution and affiliation with K9 Project Watchdog. I feel that when you apply to be an SHR you don’t necessarily know what you are applying for however as soon as you step into the world of SanParks and the Honorary Rangers you become acutely aware of the urgent need to assist where you can.
As an attorney at law at Lombard and Partners Incorporated I also assisted with the legal sphere in the SHR.
None of these SHR initiatives would have been possible without the assistance of the Magalies SHR’s, K9 MC, passionate individuals and committed companies.
Kind Regards
Lizel Oosthuizen
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”
Helen Keller.