Interesting points made by the initiator of the said petition but in my opinion the relevance is not the attitude or the bad press of the guides on these safari vehicles that is the problem.
Let me elaborate…….
Taken from the statement of H Du Toit.
Hannelie du Toit to SANParks - Kruger National Park:
4 mins • Johannesburg • In response to some of the posts on the group recently I hope you don’t mind that I advise members of this group again of the monitoring process put in place as a partnership between SANParks, the Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and the OSV Industry. A consistent problem experienced in the Kruger National Park is that of inappropriate behaviour and rule breaking. Offenders exist amongst the public, OSVs and other official vehicles. To this end the OSV industry stood together and added a monitoring element to the Industry Self-Regulation Project – a first-of-its-kind in South Africa.
Let us analyze the Self Regulating Authority.(Now SRA)
This is the OSV Terms and conditions, I am highlighting a few points only for now.
http://www.satsa.com/osv-permits/
I am sure all will find this interesting reading.
Section Terms and conditions.
6 The Safari Vehicle
6.1 The Operator shall use an Open Safari Vehicle in the Park that complies with specifications and requirements.
6.2
The Vehicle Specification Task Team will deliberate enhanced specifications. Please see Annexure A
The question is how far the bar was changed by this self regulating authority. Below the raising of the bar for new possible operators
http://www.satsa.com/wp-content/uploads ... Final.docx
For this I take the exact wording from the SATSA site and elaborate.
•
Please download the OSV Vehicle Inspection Certificate for details on vehicle specs here
• Taking visitor safety issues into consideration, a process is underway to investigate enhanced vehicle specifications. This process will contemplate current and pending Road Traffic Regulations and will include discussions with Manufacturers and Convertors, SABC specialists, as well as OSV Operators to gauge necessity, impact and practicality.
• It is envisaged that the process will be completed and jointly decided enhanced specifications communicated by January 2016.
• Vehicle specifications for the April 2015 to March 2016 permit period will remain as it was in previous years for existing permitted vehicles. All new vehicles will be subjected to the enhanced specifications with immediate effect
• All new vehicles will be subjected to the enhanced specifications from January 2016. In a phased in process, depending on the specifications, existing vehicles will be given until 2025 (or possibly 2030) to comply.
• Investigations are also underway to fit generic tracking systems to all OSV’s. This will assist with improved monitoring and will not be limited to OSV vehicles. Feedback and costs on this will be communicated by SATSA in due course.
• A Vehicle Inspection Team has been put together consisting of a SANParks representative (Piet van Wyk) and an Operators representative (Francois Grove). All existing vehicles should be re-inspected by March 2016. This will assist in getting a complete overview of what the current ‘fleet’ looks like which will be used in defining enhanced specifications as discussed above. A diary will be available on the SATSA website to book appointments for inspections (managed by SATSA). The inspection team indicated willingness to travel to Operators with a larger number of vehicles and will also have set dates for other areas to ease your travel requirements.
• Requirements for First Aid Kits as well as expiry determination will be discussed by the Task Team
• In a phased in process, depending on the specifications, existing vehicles will be given until 2025 (or possibly 2030) to comply.
Now I do agree with making these vehicles safe as houses for the public to travel in, but something false struck me in this scenario. My points.
1. To get an OSV to spec, lets say a Toyota D4D as a popular choice will cost you well in excess of ZAR600 000.00. This is prohibitive of any new entrepreneur entering the market of operating an OSV in Kruger. This could be construed as a way for current OSV operators to corner the market especially with the possibility of the park and ride system to be implemented by Kruger. This prohibition looks plausible as a current operators is the ones on the committees deciding who can and cannot enter his vehicle. (See structure of SRA)
2. Another question begging to be answered is why current operating vehicles have till 2025 BUT possibly 2030 to comply. Are the guests on those vehicles less important than guests on new operating vehicles. The SRA states vehicle specs are “for the safety of tourists”, so why only 2030 for current operators?
3. In terms and conditions it also states that current vehicles will lose the entitlement to operate in Kruger is it does change ownership.
Now just a pie in the sky statement of possibilities……
• The current OSV Operators are cornering the market and the self regulating authority is the vehicle utilized for this under the auspices of making everything better but is actually to prohibit new operators with the eye on the new Park and Ride system.
• There is a definite problem with price fixing and controlling by OSV operators.
• If any vehicles of a current OSV operator has changed hands, especially at a price premium on the normal vehicle market price, and any person in a position of authority, like the vehicle inspection team is involved and that vehicle is approved after time period Jan 2016 as stated on SRA it constitutes corruption according to SA Legal system.
Now to the rules:
7. Special Undertakings
7.1. The parties shall at all times show the utmost good faith towards each other for the duration of this Agreement.
7.2. Every Operator has to undertake to:
7.2.1. Provide an excellent level of service;
7.2.2. Look after its clients at all times and in respect of every client interface;
7.2.3. Promote the good name of SANParks and its facilities at all times;
7.2.4. At all times provide a high standard of safety to its clients;
7.2.5. Show courtesy towards other road users especially when viewing game and
7.2.6. Refrain from using radios to inform other vehicles of game viewing information of any nature
I take you to point 7.2.6.
Every OSV in the park is currently using radio contact to call in sightings, causing congestion at sightings. If any person was to complain to SATSA about this, naming vehicle number 1 to 250 what will SATSA do?
More to come on the SRA and its workings and the fallacy of OSV’s decreasing the carbon footprint by reducing vehicle numbers and lots more including the possibility of OSV drivers getting paid to spot rhino for you know who. Also, is the guides in Kruger and in the lowveld suitably qualified? Does Fgasa have accepted unit standards for certain qualifications as prescribed by SAQA.
Will the OSV operators be willing to make available their vehicle logs to see if any speeding occured, would the operators be willing to stand for an independant audit to make sure they are not utilising the SRA for personal gain. Would the SRA put themselves under a real legal authorty to be monitored. Would the OSV operators be willing to put the guides through a polygraph test.
I am just a Kruger guest, so I have few rules and laws to adhere to. As a Self regulating AUTHORITY you just put a target on your back, especially if you cannot regulate even what you set up yourself.
