Khulani Mkhize

Khulani Mkhize, (died in June 2009) was the CEO of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in South Africa.

"Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has lost a pioneer in the field of conservation Mr Khulani Mkhize who died on 23 June 2009 at the age of 49. Khulani Mkhize, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, served the conservation community with diligence and care during his career as a nature conservationist which spanned 28 years.

"He was born in Mfume in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and was educated at Madundubala Primary School and Ewubini Secondary School in Mfume, moving to Groutville High School in Stanger for his high school education. It was during this time that he discovered a love for nature conservation through a radio programme he had heard.

"He enrolled for a Diploma in Nature Conservation from Cwaka Agricultural College in 1980 and a year later joined the then KwaZulu Bureau of Natural Resources, later to become the KwaZulu Directorate of Nature Conservation. While working for this organization Mr Mkhize was involved in a wide spectrum of activities including Environmental Education, training, investigations, communications, and working with Organised Labour and communities.

"As second in charge of the Directorate, Mr Mkhize was responsible for formulating conservation policies and also played a leading role in implementing ground-breaking Community Conservation Policies. After the 1994 elections, Mr Mkhize played a leading role in the negotiations leading to the amalgamation in 1998 between the then Natal Parks Board and the KwaZulu Directorate of Nature Conservation resulting in the creation of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and his subsequent appointment as Assistant Chief Executive Officer.

"He was closely involved in the restructuring of the new organiza tion in order to maximize its effectiveness. In April 2001 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife a position he held for 7 years. During this time Mr Mkhize remained committed to effective nature conservation, managing bio-diversity conservation, ecotourism and community conservation in the province of KwaZulu-Natal."

• Advisory Committee, Peace Parks Foundation
• Co-Chair, Wilderness Specialist Group
• Trustee, Nedbank Green Trust

Controversy

Report from December 2008 notes how: "Former managing executive of the Kruger National Park, Dr Bandile Mkhize, has been appointed the CEO at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the nature conservation entity announced yesterday.

"He takes over from Khulani Mkhize, who was demoted this year after being found guilty of drunk driving in an internal inquiry.

"EKZNW in recent months has made the headlines for the wrong reasons.

"Early this year, the entire board was suspended after some of its members were fingered in a forensic audit investigation. MEC Mtholephi Mthimkhulu replaced the board with an interim three-member board."