Restaurants and Tea Rooms in Kruger Park

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

It does seem a bit strange that Ciao already started to run Selati in Dec. 2013, while other franchises were only due to start in March or May 2014?

Weird?

Ciao does not seem to fall under Tourvest, nor Famous Brands...

[mouseinthehouse]

Apparently Ciao is now closed until further notice. (from someone in KNP at the moment who posted on the SPF yesterday)

[Richprins]

Thanks, mith!

Very strange indeed!

[Richprins]

http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/co ... of-dispute




Selati Restaurant non-operational because of dispute



17 February 2014 | Nicolene Smalman

SKUKUZA - The Selati Restaurant in the Kruger National Park (KNP) is currently non-operational, not because the owner of the managing company exposed himself to employees within the park, but because of a legal dispute with SANParks.

Selati was being managed by Ringgold Investments 468 (Pty) Ltd of which Mr Ray Bermeister was the owner. He exposed himself on two occassions to personnel of the park's security services late last year. Although he wasn't criminally charged, Ms Gabrielle Venter, a spokesman for SANParks, said that "such behaviour in the presence of patrons and law-enforcement officials posed a reputational risk to SANParks and is viewed as having brought its name into disrepute.

She explained that the public private partnership agreement with Ringgold was terminated on January 23, due to the absence of a signed franchisee agreement, which implies a lack of sufficient experience required from Ringgold to operate Selati.

Bermeister obtained a High Court order, restoring possession of Selati Restaurant to Ringgold. "SANParks is not objecting to the court order, but continued occupation amounts to an unlawful holdover by Ringgold in view that the agreement has been terminated and there is no further reason why Ringgold should continue occupying the restaurant.

"Due to the above, Selati Restaurant is non-operational. This is undesirable and negative to SANParks' business. Accordingly, SANParks is currently but urgently involved in the process to ensure that Selati Restaurant becomes operational soon."

[General Gump]

At least it has all been exposed in public now.

[Duke]

She explained that the public private partnership agreement with Ringgold was terminated on January 23, due to the absence of a signed franchisee agreement, which implies a lack of sufficient experience required from Ringgold to operate Selati.

Don't SANParks check things out up front. With all the bad publicity and flak connected to the restaurants surely they could have done a better job of this.

On another note - is it OK to expose yoursef in SANParks:

Although he wasn't criminally charged, Ms Gabrielle Venter, a spokesman for SANParks, said that "such behaviour in the presence of patrons and law-enforcement officials posed a reputational risk to SANParks and is viewed as having brought its name into disrepute.

If it poses a reputational risk why don't you charge him

or is there more to the story than is being exposed here

[Richprins]

This seems very strange...surely if the respondent had exposed himself to patrons/tourists this would have made the news somewhere?

Why not lay a charge against him then?

Why do SP have "security" dump him and his son outside the Park Gate?

How long has Ringgold operated Selati? I think a long time, as there has been no news of other ownership, so how-come "inexperience"?

How could SP make an announcement last year to announce that Ciao were going to take over Selati, when the "contract was terminated only in January 2014" on other grounds?

How could the return of Selati to Ringgold be termed unlawful by SP after a High Court order, and the order not be opposed?


Bizarre indeed!

[Duke]

Wonder if the auditors looked at this

[Richprins]

I reckon all the new franchise operators are looking at this! They are pro's and don't like this sort of nonsense at all!