It is the belief of the Magqubu Ntombela Memorial Foundation that the preservation of traditional knowledge, history and culture has become absolutely vital in Southern Africa if we are to prosper as a winning nation and respect the diversity of people and culture.

The establishment of the Magqubu Ntombela Memorial Foundation (MNF / the Foundation), founded by Dr Player, Andrew Ewing and Nick Steele, was based on a promise that Dr Player made to Magqubu Ntombela.

Dr Ian Player, who considers Magqubu his great mentor and friend, once said: "Through his patient instruction he introduced me to a new cosmology. We worked together capturing rhino and on long patrols fighting poaching gangs. Together we took more than 1000 people into wilderness areas of iMfolozi and Lake St Lucia. He always led with courage; following the rhino paths and stopping to explain the history of the landscape. For Magqubu the hills and trees lived."

The promise that Dr Player made to Magqubu; to honour and protect his family and the Zulu tradition, has resulted in a number of projects which are all aimed at the advancement of the objectives and compliance with the trust deed. The Foundation is committed to encouraging the youth of today - the future leaders of our wonderful country - to embrace nature and protect our heritage, and to support conservation and community-based projects. The Foundation is also dedicated to increasing conservation awareness amongst all the peoples of Southern Africa, to exemplify how one can live harmoniously, practically and spiritually with our land, with each other and within ourselves.

Another aim of the Foundation is to acquire more land for conservation purposes. This will help support and facilitate the conservation, rehabilitation and protection of Southern Africa's natural environment.

People travel from all over the world and from all walks of life to experience our wilderness and our cultures. The necessity for funding over and above the specific projects is also to ensure that the endowment allows for long term sustainability of this unique organisation.

The MNMF was formed in order to honor the life of the late Magqubu Ntombela, who devoted his life to conserving the environment and helping his fellow man.  Dr. Player once said

“Through his patient instruction, he introduced me to a new cosmology.  We worked together capturing Rhinos and on long patrols fighting poaching gangs.  Together we took more than 1,000 people into the wilderness areas of Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park and Lake St. Lucia.  He always led with courage, following the Rhino paths and stopping to explain the history of the landscape.  For Magqubu, the hills and trees lived."

The Foundation is committed to encouraging the youth of today, the future leaders of our beautiful country, to embrace nature and protect our heritage, to support conservation and community-based projects and conserve the Earth and its biodiversity. The Foundation is further dedicated to increasing conservation awareness amongst all peoples of Southern Africa, to exemplify how one can live harmoniously, practically and spiritually with our land, with each other and within ourselves as Magqubu lived.

The Foundation is a registered Trust with the Master of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg and is both a Non-Profit Organisation and Public-Benefit Organisation.  

In 1995 the Dr Player formed a Trust called the Magqubu Ntombela Memorial Foundation to honour Magqubu.  

The principle objectives of the foundation are to promote:

  • conservation and community based development projects;
  • and increase conservation awareness amongst the peoples of Southern Africa;
  • and increase the public's awareness of how man can both practically, harmoniously and spiritually live and interact with the landscapes, and wild animals;
  • the acquisition of more land on behalf of the State for conservation purposes;
  • and introduce conservation of natural resources and the respect of traditional cultures - this was done both by lobbying and the purchase of wild lands in order that both young and old people could spiritually and practically experience the interaction of wild animals and landscape. "Ubuntu" means the general fostering of
  • the spirit of the whole man and his relationship to wilderness and conservation at large;
  • wilderness understanding and to undertake other activities in the field of conservation;

And 

  • To publish or assist in the publication of books or papers dealing in conservation or natural resources in African traditions
  • To video, photograph and film matters of interest in advancement of the Foundation

Patron: Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi

Founders: Dr Ian Player, Nick Steele & Andrew Ewing

Trustees: I Ewing (Chairman), O. Mthimkhulu (Vice-Chairman), T Moyo, E Posey, A Ewing, S Berry, N Turner (Prof), P. Singh, C van Heerden

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