Questions that Need Answers

[Richprins]

The purpose of this thread, shouldn’t be to criticize SANParks, but rather to obtain answers, even if they aren’t favourable to each and every individual, but it’s better than being in the dark.
I suggest that the questions are kept short, polite, to the point and please let’s try and remain within the rules of the forum; so that the end goal is achievable.


1. When will the “visitor’s views of responsible tourism survey” results be made public?
Answered

2. Are the “check in, check out” times under review based on the poll results which indicate that 89% of the voters preferred the old times?

5. When is the public education programme through local and national radio stations and newspapers to educate the public on the expected behaviour in a national park, as mentioned by Mr. R. Thakhuli going to kick off?

6. Is proof of an overnight booking required when purchasing alcohol in SANParks shops and is it enforced?

7. Is there a plan to address the lack of magnets on sighting boards in certain camps?

8. How does the National Consumer Protection act affect SANParks with regard to late cancelled bookings and associated penalties? Also how is the client protected with regard to service delivery issues, maintenance issues and false advertising? Are clients that don’t get what’s been promised in the advertising reimbursed?

9. Why was the “party” that took place at Skukuza on the 16/6/2011 permitted and are further similar “functions” expected?

10. Is there a plan in place to improve the utensils in the units I.e. steak knives, etc? The shops are full of steak knives for sale, shouldn’t they be in the units.

11. What dates of the year will the “park and ride” be implemented, what is the cost and are these numbers over and above the normal gate quotas.

12. Is the accommodation cost expected to rise at the same rate that it has over the last 10 years, or is it expected to stabilize? Please justify why the costs have risen at this rate.

13. Are staff training programmes in place to improve service delivery?

14. Is there a planned marketing campaign on the cards to promote SANParks?

15. Will all projects, funds, financial statements, etc that are a result of the community levy that comes into place this year, be made public knowledge?

16. Why are SANParks harvesting indigenous trees in the Garden Route National Park?

17. To what extent did SANParks oppose the issuing of mining permits on or near the borders of Mapungubwe National Park?

18. It has been stated that SANParks intends to open a new entry gate in the area used by large elephant herds north of Phalaborwa, that it will include a hotel development and tarred road infrastructure. Is this correct and is it necessary and for what reasons.

20. Does SANParks intend to oppose any mining operations in the Malelane area, where prospecting studies are in progress?

21. Why is the road from Twee Rivieren to Kij Kij n KTP still closed for visitors? Why is it not possible to finish the building/repair works (closed for about two years now)?

22. Do donors have preferential booking privileges and does this only apply to their donor accommodation. If the answer is yes, please provide a list of all donor accommodation and details as to how long this privilege is applicable.

23. Do tour operators have booking privileges and if so, which companies.

24. Could there be some sort of detailed statement, including financial estimates and records, forthcoming regarding the income and allocation regarding traffic fines generated in SANParks? Not simply the yearly Budget?

25. What is SANParks strategy to attract more visitors to the less popular parks?

26. Was the new seasonal mobile tented camp in Namaqua NP a success (what was the occupancy?)

27. When and by whom was the decision made that Sanparks should pay largely its own way regarding the running of National Parks, as opposed to Government INCREASING its subsidy, and for what reason?

28. How far in advance does booking open for Kruger? If it is 11 months how can a camp be almost fully booked at 7am when the doors at Reservation House open?

29. Please could we have some statistics concerning the utilisation of the new Skukuza Conference facility since its completion?

30. What is Sanparks' policy regarding the stockpiling, securing and monitoring of, and possible sale of ivory collected in the veld, and approximately how much is there at present? Also regarding rhino horn in Sanparks' possession?

31. Why does Addo open its gate at 7am all year round and not change gate times based on the time of the year?

32. What were the costs involved with the Sanparks Delegation's visit to North American National Parks? Who pays for it, and who went?

34. What is SANPark’s stance on domestic cattle that are often found in Mapungubwe National Park?

35. What is SANParks stance on bicycles in camps and how is the current rule being enforced?

36. Is SANParks considering retail chains as an option in the parks, if yes, why? When will the results of the survey on this topic be made public?
Answered

37. Why is SANParks still selling Kruger rhinos when so many have been poached and there isn’t a surplus? Who are they being sold to, names, companies, etc?

38. What other sources of additional revenue were considered by SANParks before deciding on the hotel/conference centre option and why were they rejected?

39. Which other locations were considered for the proposed Malelane hotel and why were they rejected and why was this specific site chosen?

40. How many other of the proposed hotel/conference centre projects (apart from Malelane) are being considered over the next 10 years and where are the proposed locations?

41. Apart from Raddison Blu, were other hospitality organisations invited/considered to tender for the Malelane Hotel and who were they?

42. If, for whatever reason, the proposed Malelane hotel development does not materialise, what significant substitute sources of revenue are or may be considered?

43. What is the plan to deal with the “overcrowding” in the Southern region of Kruger?

44. With regard to the hotels, is the plan to increase the number overnight visitors and to limit self drive and reduce the number of day visitors?

45. Why has a 24hour access to the potential hotel been decided in spite of the disturbance it will cause to the animals in the area?

46. Is the privatisation of the KNP rest camps being considered, if so why?

47. Will hunting in the KNP become a part of the sustainable utilization option for the KNP?

48. Why were the objections by the KNP Manager of Conservation Services about the Malelane site not respected when the site was decided on by SANPARKS, as per the Scoping report?

49. Why was the site opposite Leopard Creek rejected?

50. What are SANPARKS plans to provide more affordable overnight accommodation to those who would love to visit our Park and cannot afford to do so?

51. What is the occupancy rate used to establish the economical viability of the Malelane hotel and how does this occupancy rate compare with the existing Pestana Kruger Lodge and that of the Malelane Sun that burned down?

52. What is the average yearly income SANParks expect to receive from this hotel development and can we receive a short calculation as to how this figure was calculated?

53. What percentage of the shortfall in government subsidies will be covered by the expected hotel income?

55. Was the current Malelene Camp at all considered as a site to build the hotel? If not, why not?

57. The Traffic Statement by WSP notes that the total number of trips between the gate and the Malelane hotel during am/pm peak hours will be 41. Shuttles will run every half hour.
a) At what speed will the official vehicles of the hotel be allowed to travel?
b) Will the speed limit be reduced for driving at night?
c) What measures are going to be put in place from SANParks’ side to ensure compliance to the speed limit? Or will the hotel management be left to self regulate?

58. What steps have SANParks taken to promote the current facilities in the park to the middle and upper class black population?

59. Could we get access to the research done by TNS Survey, including their conclusion, which according to Dr. Mabunda “showed that black people were not coming in big numbers to the parks due to historical reasons of deliberate exclusion and that they were not too impressed with the tourism product offered as it didn’t talk to them but to those who understood the “Guardian Spirit” of Jan Smuts and the “all-pervasive wilderness ambiance” of Stevenson-Hamilton”

60. Why 24 hrs access to Malelane Safari Lodge and not the usual access hours as per any other entry gate for any other guest in Kruger? What impact/effect will this have on noise and light pollution at night, i.e. continuous traffic over a 24 hr period? What will the impact be on nocturnal animals in the region? What security risks are involved if 24 hr access is permitted?

61. If 24 hours access is allowed, how will it influence the access to other Safari Lodges such as Lukimbi and Mpanamana? Can they now also apply for 24 hours access for their guests?

62. Are the game driving vehicles going to stick to recognise routes or will they be allowed to go off-road making their own tracks exclusive for the use of the lodge?

63. According to information dr Mabunda joined H L Hall & Sons Holdings Ltd during August 2006 as a Non-Executive Director. Is this true and if so, is that company directly or indirectly involved in the construction phase of the hotels at Skukuza and Malelane?

64. SANParks Chairperson, Kuseni Dlamini, is said to be a Director at Mvelaphanda Group as well. It also seems that Mvelaphanda Group has a stake in COAL, the company who is involved in the coal mine near Mapungubwe. According to records Mvelaphanda Group is in partnership with the Rezidor Group who was appointed as the “operator” of the hotel at Malelane. If this is true, isn’t there a conflict of interest?

65. What efforts have been made by Sanparks to secure additional government funding to sustain Sanparks activities?

66. Is it true that these hotels are specifically aimed at attracting black Africans to Kruger Park? If so, why and are there plans for similar projects to attract coloured, Indian and white South Africans?

67. What is the response to the concerns submitted by the Mjejane Tribal reserve and lodge nearby, who feel the Malelane Safari Lodge will hamper their tourist activities in Kruger?

68. Are the hotels about creating revenue, or broadening the racial support base of Kruger visitors?

69. Is there an overutilization of present conference facilities in Kruger, necessitating more in the Malelane area? Please provide statistics.

70. What was planned for accommodating the SKUKUZA Conference Centre attendees, when the EIA for the Centre was done?

71. Will the planned SKUKUZA Hotel have 24/7 access, will it be a park and ride facility?

73. When is SANParks planning to start the process of public participation for the planned Hotel at Skukuza?

74. Dr. Mabunda has been in the press numerous times stating that such hotels are an apartheid course-correction meant to attract more domestic black visitors to KNP. Have studies been done that show hotels are the answer to attracting more domestic black South Africans to KNP? Please provide these studies.

75. Money that is earned by the development will be paid into what account ,SANParks or central government ?

76. In the past 15 years, how much land did SANParks acquire out of their own coffers and not bought with funds they received from government specifically for this purpose?

77. Is there a conscious decision by SANParks to compete with local OSV operators and claim a share of that market?

78. Early SANParks publications reference that the hotel(s) will have access to an airstrip. Is the airstrip within the boundaries of KNP and, if so, is it currently being used to ferry tourists into the park for other camps/concessions?

79. Why is Sanparks renewing concession contracts, why not just take over an existing setup? That way you will get the full monetary benefit instead of a 'percentage of the takings' so to speak?

80. Considering that these hotels will probably be out of the price range for the average middle class earner in SA, what plans do SANParks have to indeed attract more of the emerging black middle class to Kruger and our other national parks?

82. In most of Dr Mabunda’s media releases he resorted to attacking people who oppose these hotels by labelling them as "purists", the “privileged elite” of the apartheid regime etc, etc, Does the SANParks board share this view? If so, why and do the SANParks management realize that this broadly aimed labelling and attacks have left a bitter taste in the mouths of many loyal Kruger (and SANParks) supporters, local and from abroad?

83. Does the SANParks board understand that many people are in opposition to these developments out of fear for the future of our National Parks and because they have a deep love for, and pride in, these parks and wish to preserve them for all generations to come?

84. Is SANParks using the sad racial division of our past (and thereby creating even more division) to justify a product that will still exclude the majority of South Africans, but this time on economical grounds? Please explain how this is justifiable in a country that tries to build unity?

87. Has the 2011/13 deliberate burning in KNP been justified, despite the deaths of rhino, elephant, etc?

89. Do the SANParks staff and camp management undergo regular performance appraisals, if so, who conducts them and how are the results utilized to improve service delivery?

90. The game culling carcass processing depot outside Skukuza is currently under renovation, why?

91. Is elephant culling on the cards in Kruger, if so, what will become of the meat, etc?

92. Are rangers in Kruger or other SANParks entitled to shoot animals for personal consumption?

93. Do the SANParks staff have to obey the no-noise policy between certain hours, if so, why the continued complaints about noisy staff villages?

94. Are there plans for timeshare type units on the banks of the Luvhuvhu and in the Makuleke concession?

95. Do Sanparks propose to continue with rhino sales from Kruger in 2014, in the light of current poaching levels?

96. What do Sanparks propose to do with the newly aquired TEBA Pafuri site?

97. Does Dr Mabunda have political ambitions after his role at Sanparks?

98. After the much publicised new law effective 1 Dec 2011 that ANYBODY travelling between Punda Maria Gate/Pafuri Gate and Pafuri Border post and vice versa will have to have a booking for 1 night/will have to stay for one night in Kruger. How come nothing has changed at Punda Maria Gate and Pafuri Border Post and vice Versa as the speeding unroadworthy overloaded bakkies etc are still roaring through. Has this law been cancelled?

99. Why did Sanparks appoint a second additional Auditing firm, at great expense, to do their books, as the Auditor General has performed that function in the past?

100. Are tenders going to be put out for the repairs to flood damage in KNP, and how long will that delay said repair process?

101. Why, as per the minister's statement below is there no evidence whatsover regarding actual legal steps being taken against either Mail&Guardian, or the elusive Kellog's character?

Quote from Minister:

In conclusion I would also like to make reference to the recent Mail & Guardian (17.02.2012) story on the same subject. I have no doubt that the said official was behind the story and the M&G used our elected representatives’ comments to give credence to his uncorroborated and wild accusations. SANParks has since approached the South Gauteng High Court, to seek relief from these unprecedented attacks on itself, systems and officials. Charges have also been laid with the police and other relevant state authorities



There is absolutely no substance at all to the above spin...not from South Gauteng High Court, or M&G, and I worked long and hard to confirm!

102. If our website is so inaccurate and malicious as recently stated by Sanparks, why do so many Sanparks employees follow events here on a daily basis?

[Poplap]

103. Exactly how many square kilometres of conservation soil will be rezoned as per the announcement on 11 June 2012.

104. Why is SA looking after the welfare of neighbouring countries, and neglecting their own? This question is based on the statement by Ms Molewa as per media articles of 11 June 2012 as being one of the advantages of rezoning.

[Richprins]

104. Can SanParks, KZN Parks and SAPS provide an account of the amount of confiscated and naturally removed rhino horn and ivory in their possession, and how that stockpile is monitored and audited?

[H. erectus]

Poplap, RP,...pertinent questions which call for
appropriate answers!!! Well done!!!!

[Richprins]

105. Why exactly was a convoy of commercial trucks allowed to use Kruger as a detour to reach Komatipoort in March, and what revenue was collected from this operation? Will this situation be repeated?

[Bushcraft]

I see a few updates in red RP. Have SANParks answered any more of these questions or are they still ignoring them.

[Richprins]

No new answers!