SANParks Social Media

[Klipspringer]

https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/s ... dividuals/

SANParks to lay criminal charges against two individuals
Posted on 24 August 2020

South Africa National Parks (SANParks) will lay both criminal and civil charges against two women, Erika Leslie and Pippa Truter, who allegedly posted or reposted racist comments on social media.

‘There have been comments on the Facebook page by two individuals whom we named alleging that there is no accommodation in Skukuza because it had been turned into a squatter camp by employees who were refusing to move back to their living quarters,’ said Ike Phaahla, Communications and Marketing Manager at Kruger National Park.

This is after Truter reposted an allegation seemingly made by Leslie on a Facebook group, saying: ‘Don’t waste your time trying to book a Charlet or Rondavel anywhere in KNP! They are all occupied by the workers of Sanparks! They took occupancy and refuse to move! Now paying clients can’t book cause it full! Another heritage side turned into a Squatter camp free of charge! Our tax money pays for their occupancy!’

Phaahla continued: ‘The post was factually incorrect, racist and misleading. It defamed the organisation alleging incompetence by management and insinuating that employees were not following protocols.’

Many group members were outraged by the language used. ‘I’m sure you can raise your complaints without the use of all those racist slurs,’ one user commented. ‘That post is pure racism and hate speech, and ANYONE who shares it, or even thinks to question it is part of the problem,’ another user added.

‘We passed the information to our Legal Department and were advised to lay charges against the identified individuals, which we will be doing. The other consideration is to ban them from the park and stop them doing business with SANParks as these were not the first negative, false and racist remarks by both individuals against the organisation,’ Phaahla added.

‘This is done to maintain the integrity of the organisation and to teach those who distribute false news a lesson,’ SANParks said in a statement.

[Klipspringer]

So the original post was made by Erika Leslie (likely the owner of a guesthouse "Die Plaas" in Marloth Park) on FB group Marloth Park Marketing and then it was shared on SANParks Kruger FB with the question: "Is this true" and that is how it became an issue on SANParks FB.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=322 ... fIVfbGs_7M

https://www.facebook.com/gert.kotze.737 ... 1916046290

[harrys]

I'm sorry but I don't see anything racist about this post, maybe the aligations was not true but "racist" I don't think so, "hate speech" not according to some court cases against certain political leaders that said it was not hate speech. Maybe Sanparks has a guilty consiuons and uses these two things to shift the blame

[Klipspringer]

What surprises me again and again is the way SANParks handles grievances on social media.
People moan that they can't get accommodation. Why does SANParks not explain to their clientele how much accommodation is available and why the unavailable accommodation can not be booked.

50% government policy
suddenly renovations all over the place
priority to keep staff safe and to not use the staff accommodation
staff can not deal with large numbers of tourists in camps

A mystery to me

[harrys]

Exactly my question too why can't they just be honest, it will make things so much easier

[Richprins]

What is racist about those posts?

Are all staff staying in chalets of a certain race group, or all squatter camp inhabitants in the world?

[Lisbeth]

There is a piece missing Anyway nothing racist in the part that we see, and then there are the silly ones attracting attention to a typo

[Richprins]

According to the Minister staff would be out of tourist accommodation by 20 August and it would not affect tourism. I wonder if that has happened?


Parliamentary questions re staff housing

https://www.environment.gov.za/parliamentary_updates

https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/de ... alpark.pdf

[Richprins]

SANParks reposting warning people not to repost!



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SANParks has laid charges on the posting of these fake news and anyone who continues to repost will be added to the list of the peddlers who should be investigated and charged.

[Lisbeth]

Let's get in the "Spelling Police" (I don't want to be charged for re-posting )