SANParks in dispute with Kruger Restaurant operator

[ExFmem]

Ah, the good 'ol days...

I don't remember the year exactly, but when we first began visiting Kruger we SO enjoyed the evening DINING at the larger camps - a proper menu, dignified waiters in "proper" attire, course by course service.....sigh.

Then the buffets began and were horrific. In our experience, Mugg 'n Bean entered and restored some semblance of an acceptable dining experience...I THINK Lower Sabie must still have the franchise , as their menu is the most exhaustive and consonant with the quality of service and offerings.

The rest, nothing to draw one in anymore - only my opinion.

I still don't understand how Mopani gets good reviews when it seemed to us to be the "exact" menu of Letaba, etc. We ate there in the past, and loved it - not this year, sadly.

In their defense, there must be obstacles we have no idea of, that prevent the type of service and quality as in the past. (More people prefer to self cater, economic downturn that prevents more people from spending a bit more on an evening meal so the attendant expenditure on all the ingredients, personnel, etc... is no longer feasible

Nonetheless, let's hope for the best...said PollyAnna

[okie]

They were forced to change . They cannot announce dinner time , because nobody knows how to play an Mbira anymore

[H. erectus]

They cannot announce dinner time , because nobody knows how to play an Mbira anymore

Oh, but they become sharp when inviting such by keypad logistics!!!

[Richprins]

They used to play the traditional drums at mealtimes in the old days, quite a spectacle as staff from chefs to waiters would do their routine to the applause of the expectant guests. Memorable indeed!

[H. erectus]

Friggin idiots still do the same when it comes "Tipping"

[Richprins]

A mate of mine went to eat at one of the "boskombuise" and was quite impressed! Fair enough.

But the point is being missed. These kitchens are an emergency stop-gap measure. They are not BEEE compliant much, no tender was released for their services, no community involvement politically-speaking, and I doubt whether SANParks gets a significant cut of the profits.

So essentially back to square one, with SP losing money through breach of contract and legal fees..

[H. erectus]

Tops RP, a greater KNP mess,....
Pointing at higher levels of mismanagement!!!
Them seeking other alternatives, only to correct
selves in the greater picture of demise!!!

[Richprins]

Look, all these ideas began with noble purpose, but there is a funny munny trail that has been found out with SP, IMO, like the rest of the SOEs. Watch this space.

[Richprins]

Freeloaders must go, rules high court



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Ilse de Lange

The Pretoria High Court ruled that SANParks is entitled to take immediate control of privately-run restaurants in three of the Kruger National Park’s rest camps.


South African National Parks (SANParks) could not be expected to continue squandering its limited resources to fund privately-run restaurants in three of the Kruger National Park’s rest camps, which refused to pay for anything, a high court judge has said.

Judge Peter Mabuse dismissed an application by Ringgold Investments, which ran the restaurants at the Letaba, Olifants and Satara camps, to force SANParks to immediately restore their electricity supply and ruled that SANParks was entitled to take immediate control of the restaurants and to evict Ringgold.

He also granted a punitive costs order against Ringgold, despite the company’s application to set aside an arbitration award in favour of SANParks was still pending before the High Court in Pretoria.

Giving reasons for his ruling, Judge Mabuse said its was clear that Ringgold owed SANParks millions of rands and had not made any payments since October last year, causing SANParks to legally cancel their public-private partnership agreements to run the three restaurants.

SANParks terminated the electricity supply to the restaurants in September. Ringgold claimed the termination was illegal but Judge Mabuse ruled SANParks had acted in terms of consensual arbitration, a judicial process.

SANParks contended Ringgold’s sole intention was to remain in occupation of the restaurants and carry on business for as long as possible, earning profits from the tourists visiting Kruger National Park, but paying nothing to SANParks.

The judge said SANParks was in a difficult position due to the exclusive nature of the restaurant facilities, which were used by many tourists. SANParks could not replace the operator as long as Ringgold refused to leave and by cutting the electricity, tourists were deprived of facilities.

He said Ringgold had taken advantage of SANParks’s tourist conscious approach and sought to delay the resolution of the disputes so that they could carry on trading without compensating SANParks.

– ilsedl@citizen.co.za

https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa ... s.facebook

[Richprins]

I'm sure they will appeal...takes years...