Kruger Ranger Don English - Antipoaching Icon Under Siege

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Kruger Ranger Don English - Antipoaching Icon Under Siege

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SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News ... GLLCU7vgb8

2019-11-11 20:04
Buks Viljoen, Correspondent

SANParks is remaining tight-lipped about the suspension of one of the Kruger National Park's most senior and respected game rangers, Don English.

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English and a colleague, Victor Magakwe, were suspended on October 11 for the alleged assault and mistreatment of rangers and suspected poachers after complaints were filed by another game ranger.

The ranger, a corporal whose name is known to News24, was also apparently suspended prior to English and Magakwe's case for his alleged involvement in rhino poaching.

It is understood the corporal had been on the anti-poaching authorities' radar for quite a while.

News24 understands, he and another ranger were arrested in September during a sting operation when an illegal weapon was found in his tent in a bush camp.

This could, however, not be officially confirmed by SANParks or the Mpumalanga police.

The ranger, whose own case is pending, registered a complaint with his union. It is understood that he is not in custody while the case is being investigated.

Following his complaint, the EFF allegedly became involved, leading to the park's management taking action against Magakwe and English.

English, who has been working at Kruger for most of his career, is one of the rangers closely involved in the fight against rhino poaching.

SANParks spokesperson Ike Phaahla confirmed the two men had been suspended but refused to reveal more details.

Phaahla said when SANParks became aware of the allegations against English and Magakwe, advocate Boyce Mkhize was appointed as an independent consultant to handle the case.

According to him the investigation had been finalised, but management was still studying the outcome "to understand the facts".

"There might even be more suspensions later," said Phaahla.

He could not say when, and if, disciplinary hearings would be held.

There is currently uncertainty among the rhino poaching investigation teams, as well as the legal and prosecuting authorities on how the case might impact on numerous high-profile poaching cases in which English is a key witness.


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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by RogerFraser »

0- @#$ 0: And while the politicians fiddled Rome burned .... O** /ou/ /ou/


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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Mel »

Ja, it all sounds like a big mess 0*\


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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Alf »

It's another political driven case


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Richprins »

They saw it worked for Glenn Phillips... O**

There may come a stage when the rangers say enough is enough. That will have dramatic implications for visitor safety in Kruger.


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Richprins »

SANParks ranger suspended

CityPress10 Nov 2019SIZWE SAMA YENDE sizwe.yende@citypress.co.za

A senior ranger at the world-renowned Kruger National Park has been suspended, following the completion of a probe into allegations of racism and the torture of black employees.

SA National Parks (SANParks) hired Analytical Forensic Investigation Services (Afis) about five months ago to probe the matter, after black rangers began speaking out about their suffering at the hands of white colleagues. They alleged that their colleagues often accused them of rhino poaching and subjected them to apartheid-style torture methods, smothering and beating them in order to coerce them into confessing to the crime.

The black employees claimed that they were handed over to police and detained, only to be released later in court because of insufficient evidence against them.

SANParks’ management would nonetheless charge them internally and subject them to a disciplinary process.

SANParks has repeatedly refused to make the findings of the investigation public and has been cagey about releasing any details of the allegations.

According to documents City Press has seen, Don English, a ranger in the Marula region, has been implicated by a few black rangers in their testimony to Afis for allegedly torturing them.

In sworn statements the workers made to Afis investigator Advocate Boyce Mkhize, they painted a gruesome picture of how English and his colleagues assaulted them in an attempt to force them to confess.

When approached by City Press, English would only say: “You will have to speak to SANParks spokesperson Isaac Phaahla. We are not allowed to speak to the media.”

City Press has also seen letters that SANParks’ chief executive officer (CEO), Fundisile Mketeni, wrote to the victims following the investigation. In the letters, Mketeni said management was concerned by the torture allegations and that an internal investigation had been launched “to ascertain if there have been any breaches of SANParks policies and codes of conduct”, as well as a criminal one.

Following the suspension of English, Phaahla said there was a possibility that more suspensions would follow: “This is part of an ongoing investigation around allegations that remain just that: allegations. However, as part of good governance and respect for all our employees, suspensions are a necessary part of the process for investigations to happen effectively and with transparency.

“An independent investigation by Mkhize has been conducted as well as interventions by management, human resources and SANParks’ CEO, and are still in progress,” he said, adding that disciplinary matters were treated with strict confidentiality in keeping with SANParks policy.


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Richprins »

The above reporter has been on this case since March... O**


viewtopic.php?f=312&t=9401

Notice this report does not mention EFF involvement, nor that a black ranger was also suspended along with English, (for apartheid tactics)


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: SANParks tight-lipped on suspension of senior Kruger National Park ranger

Post by Alf »

They obviously wants all the white employees to resign. This has been going on for many years now


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Re: Kruger Ranger legend Don English suspended after complaints from Suspected Colleague

Post by Lisbeth »

0()


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