Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

[Peter Betts]

[BunnyHugger]

Well DONE Sprocket man.

I heard about this thread from the Slowveld Kid and have been following it closely. It reads like a freaking soap opera. I have long been saying I have massive distrust of SANPARKS management (granted not all, just the more obvious ones). Only difference is that I can now voice my opinions and conclusions where previously they censored such things, locked posts and tried to buy time for the clowns to hide their heads like ostriches and hoping the dust would settle.

This silence is typical of SANPARKS management and I firmly believe it is what they do when they haven't got a clue as to how to answer to the questions and or allegations put to them. I am now completely convinced they are a bunch of clowns. Only they are not funny. They are in dangerous positions that can have a severely detrimental on the conservation of our national heritage.

The more I see this the more I think it's time for Mabunda to vacate his office and take his sidekicks with him.

[Sprocky]

Oh well, it's now Friday afternoon according to me. Some people might try and deny this fact, but I am sure that we all agree and have sufficient proof that it is indeed Friday afternoon.

Originally RP emailed both Mabasa and Mabunda. Their response was that they would prefer to speak to the person involved directly as opposed to messages being relayed via a third party. I then decided to email Mabasa myself.

I was not at all happy with the false statements that were published on News24 as well as other newspapers. This was my first email to Mabasa...

Good day Mr Mabasa

I will start by saying that I am deeply offended by your false press release on News24 today, 18 June 2012.

I was the person that confronted the driver of the vehicle at Sable Dam, I also have photographic evidence of everything. Let me correct a few points in your report to News24...

A group of men has been thrown out of the Kruger National Park because of drunkenness, the park said on Monday.

They were not thrown out due to drunkenness, they actually obtained illegal entry to the park and were in possession of a forged entry and exit permit.

Spokesperson William Mabasa said four men travelling in a minibus arrived at the park's Phalaborwa Gate, in Limpopo, on Sunday.

There were 14 people not 4.

"They told the security officials that they were there to visit an employee who resides in one of the park's villages," he said.


Mabasa said the men were allowed to enter free of charge, but the guards noticed later that they had not driven to the village where the employees stay.

The guards did not notice anything, the first time they knew about it was when I arrived at the gate with them.

"The men were located around the park and brought back to the gate where they were requested to pay a conservation fee, which they did," said Mabasa."

This is true, I located them and escorted them to the gate.

At this point, the guards noticed the visitors were not sober, and told them to leave.

That is a blatant lie.

"We could not refund the men their money because they had to pay for the time they had spent inside the park," Mabasa said.


Let me enlighten you on what actually transpired on the day. Please keep in mind that I have photographs of the vehicle both at the dam and at the gate, as well as photographs of the altered permit.



It all happened like this...

I took a break from watching the Le Mans and myself and the LO headed in the park for a short drive. It ended up being just that. On the Sable Loop heading to the hide, this pink taxi overtook me at a rate of knots. I got a bit upset but thought better and let the idiot go leaving me in a dust cloud. We continued our drive to the hide. When we got there, there were lots of cars so I told the LO that we will just turn back and stop later to eat out toasted sarmies. One of the cars was the pink taxi, as I was turning to leave the little one said that there were beers in the taxi. I drove up to it and the sliding door was wide open and nobody near it. There were lots of beers lying around inside. I parked and waited for them to come out. This only took about two minutes and you could hear the noise exiting the hide. When they tried to get in I walked up to them and asked you the driver was. At first they kept quiet, then finally the driver came to me. I asked if he knew the rules about alcohol and speed, which he answered almost right. So he knew that they were not allowed to be drinking but thought that the speed limit on dirt was 50.

The fun started when I told them that I was going to report them, then they started apologising, but I told them it was too late to be sorry. I asked the driver for the entry permit and noticed that the number of occupants was changed from 2 to 14 in pen. They couldn't tell me who changed it so I told them that I have to take a photo of it. By now they thought that I was an official, well I did have my AW shirt on and the correct looking shorts and canvas sandals. I then told them that I am going to escort them to the gate, to which they agreed, I couldn't believe what was going on.

While driving I phoned the gate and told them what had happened and gave them the registration number. At the gate I called the driver and took him into reception with me. The first thing that the guy at reception asked me is if I gave him the correct reg number as that vehicle had not entered according to their computer system. Reception then asked him for his permit, to which he said that I never gave it back to him. Anyway, after a few minutes of negotiating he finally found his permit. Now the real shock came to light. The permit was in a Mr Taljaard's name and the permit was for 11 June which was changed in pen to 17 June.

The reception contacted Ben van Eerden and he said that they must pay the full amount for each person and then they must not be allowed in again. On top of this, we had to photocopy the drivers licence and get all of his details and the vehicle details. They ended up having to pay R672 to be able to leave the park. The driver will be contacted tomorrow to go to the gate where they will fine him for illegal entry, drinking alcohol and making noise. I asked what will happen if he doesn't go to the gate and they said that they will then lay a charge at the police. They will also phone me to let me know exactly what he gets fined for and what the amount is. The driver and the taxi have already been banned from entering the park again.

I forgot to mention how they got in. They stopped at the gate and said that they are going to see someone (I won't mention the name) in the staff village, easy as that. This detail was recorded in the register at the gate. But instead of going to the village they headed straight to Sable. The person that they were supposed to be visiting was not even at the village.



This is what happened, if you would like to see the photographs just let me know when you respond to this email, which I am sure you will do.

I expect you now to confirm these facts and then put out a new press release with an apology as to why you you had your facts wrong when approaching News24.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards


Wayne Calitz

--
Please visit http://www.sagr.co.za

[Dewi]

[Sprocky]

I then received a reply from a very thankful Mabasa. Unfortunately due to their (SANParks) sensitivity I can't post Mabasa's replies here. I will however carry them over to you in my own words. In this first reply from him, when I replied I inserted my response in the body of his email in red, so I won't be able to copy and paste that either. My replies will be copied but I will just tell you all what he said in his email.

This was my reply to him...

Hi William,

Thanks for getting back to me. I will answer in your mail in red.

With all the below stated, I would like to know what has happened to the driver in terms of a fine and what actions are going to be taken from your side about the lack in security.

The problem does NOT lie with your staff in reception, in fact they did a splendid job once I phoned them on my way to the gate with the other vehicle.

I have also noted that on the SANParks forum, this issue has been locked. Please inform them as to what the truth is, they are the people that continue supporting SANParks, let the truth be known.

If your investigation team needs any info, they are welcome to contact me for the truth.

Regards

Wayne

The wording below in black is my rendition of Mabasa's words.

Mabasa thanked me for giving him an eyewitness statement, and then said that the media got the info before he did.
I left my contact details at the gate yesterday, anyone was welcome to contact me for the full story.
He told me that he did not send a media statement to any media house, and that the Beeld had phoned him in connection with the allegation and he gave them the answers as they were relayed to him.
The allegation was the truth and was published in todays Beeld, even with one of my photos.
He then said that our concern is to find out how this taxi got into the park with alcohol and without paying.
If you had read my entire account of the event, you would have noticed that I explained how they got in.
He then went on to say that a ranger is investigating the matter so that a report can be made. He then said "The whole media frenzy for us is neither here nor there and as such we are not going to issue any statement and I think your concern is also not the publicity thereof but a redress on the matter."
I would still appreciate it if you could contact the media and give them the correct story from your side.
He then ended the email with these words, "May I also take this opportunity to thank you personally for what you did and now that you have my contact details, in future please me know as soon as possible should you come across any act of lawlessness in the park so that together we can deal with the situation on the spot".
Believe me, you will get a lot of calls from me as I am in the park every weekend, and I take it that you are happy that I report all such incidents directly to you.

Now it was time to wait for a reply from him.

[Sprocky]

I got a reply from him. Once again I will write in my own words what he said.

He said that in the previous mail he had tried to make two points and that he claimed I did not get the message. So he had another try.
1. He said that he thanked me for what I did and also said that we must allow the investigation process to take it's natural course and allow KNP management to deal with the matter.
2. He asked that we leave the media out of it as it adds no value, and then in these words "otherwise I may end up having to say that you impersonated a police officer which can be viewed as a criminal offence and I avoided saying that specifically to protect you". He then said that this was his personal view and that we should leave Ben to deal with the matter. He also requested that in future I contact him regarding such issues instead of making them a publicity stand.

This email got my blood boiling and it was now time to get serious.

[Sprocky]

Time for my reply after some serious consideration.

Mr Mabasa

Your e-mail of 19 June 2012 refers. I have noted the elucidation of your initial e-mail and the points you apparently wanted to make.

Your attention is drawn to the following:

1. I did not act to receive recognition or gratitude. I acted as a concerned citizen.

2. SANParks management has instituted a restriction on liquor use by day visitors. This is the law and visitors to Kruger should abide by this.

3. However, of much greater concern is the fact that the 14 occupants of the vehicle in question were able to gain easy access to the Kruger National Park with a forged entry and exit permit. SANParks is currently fighting a seemingly losing battle to stop the plague of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park. In view of the evidence in hand, the question must be raised of how very easy it may be for a group of poachers to gain access to the Park and not exit on the same day/exit days later. No one will be any the wiser. This fact sends shivers down my spine.

4. I demand an investigation of this incident and consequently a public rectification of the incorrect report that was submitted to the media. I reiterate that I was available to assist with the compilation of a factual report. However, regrettably so, I was never contacted and the general public has now been made to believe that SANParks staff took action against this unlawful behaviour?

4. Your threat of “otherwise I may end up having to say that you impersonated a police officer” is underlining the fact that your message is not in good faith and I take huge exception to your allegation.

5. My actions on Sunday were well within my rights as a law abiding citizen. And at that, a concerned citizen, as now I have proof and first hand experience of the ineffective and insufficient measures that are in place to protect the inhabitants of this once pristine conservation area.

6. I await your confirmation that the incorrect statement to the media has been rectified.

Regards

Wayne Calitz

[Sprocky]

The reply that came back from Mabasa was short and to the point...

I am not going to engage you further than I have done regarding this matter, if you feel you wish to discuss this matter further, please make an appointment with my office and come and see me.

Now this got me even more upset.

My reply to this next...

[Sprocky]

Here is my last correspondence to Mabasa. Since sending this email I have not heard a word back from him.

Mr Mabasa

I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail.

1. I am somewhat perturbed that an HOD in the Public Relations Department of SANParks is declaring his unwillingness in writing to keep the communication lines open with a client regarding a matter of such serious nature.

2. As a PR specialist, perhaps you know that when any company receives a complaint, it essentially has two choices. One, treat the complaining client like he is a pain in the neck or two, appreciate each complaining client and use the complaint as an opportunity to improve and set the record straight.

3. Expecting the client to visit you at your offices to discuss a matter where SANParks clearly was in the wrong by their slack (absence of?) security and feeding the press false information, and consequently refusing to set the record straight, is just another clear example of the unwillingness of SANParks management to accept the fact that there are imperfections and a continue with a no care attitude.

4. The question arises whether you would have treated me, the client, any differently if I was not a member of the Africa Wild Forum.

5. The record and evidence in hand reflect that there is no doubt that:

(a) this incident took place; and

(b) SANParks consequently provided false information to the press. As you do not wish to discuss this further, I have to conclude that this was done in a poor attempt to save face.

6. As a concerned citizen and client I am entitled to know if and what remedies were taken to prevent incidents of this nature in the Kruger National Park, in particular in view of the rife rhino poaching and SANParks fighting a losing battle to prevent this. This information can easily be conveyed in writing and I fail to see the necessity to discuss this with you in person.


Wayne Calitz

--
Please visit www.sagr.co.za

[Richprins]

So you do the Park a favour, and then have to go and explain yourself in the "Headmaster's office"?

Remind me not to report any bad behaviour in the Park!

Oh, wait...the staff on the ground greatly appreciated it!

In that case...