WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) paid tribute to a wide range of outstanding environmental achievements with the presentation of the organisation’s National Annual Awards. These Awards were presented at the organisation’s 93rd AGM, which was hosted by WESSA’s Northern Areas Region in Muldersdrift, Gauteng on Saturday 14 September 2019.
The WESSA Awards, which have been presented since 1974, enable WESSA to recognise and honour those who have made a significant contribution to the conservation or environmental education sector in South Africa over the past year in an exceptional and sustained manner.
The WESSA Individual Award was presented to Dr Louis van Schalkwyk, the WESSA Group Award recipient was presented to the documentary STROOP – Journey into the rhino horn war, the WESSA Award for Corporates was awarded to Vergelegen Wine Estate, and the WESSA Youth Award was presented to Ziphezinhle Langa
WESSA also paid tribute to Robert Cross who was awarded the WESSA Gold Award for his extraordinary contribution to environmental education for over 50 years, and Mdiceni Gumede who was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to conservation.