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https://city-press.news24.com/News/whis ... d-20191008

Whistle-blower who spoke out on racism at Kruger Park suspended
Sizwe sama Yende
2019-10-08 22:00

A whistle-blower whose claims about racism and the arbitrary torture of black rangers on suspicions of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park precipitated an investigation has been suspended by SA National Parks (SANParks

Investigation into staff complaints of racism, torture at Kruger Park

SA National Parks (SANParks) has suspended a whistle-blower whose claims about racism and the arbitrary torture of black rangers on suspicions of rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park precipitated an investigation.

The investigation has been completed, but the report has not been released.

Raymond Khosa reported black employees’ concerns to SANParks’ management and, when he was snubbed, elevated the matter to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office and Parliament.

Khosa was suspended on September 25 when he began calling for the results of the investigation report to be disclosed.

He also questioned the “real facts” about the resignation of Kruger’s managing executive, Glenn Phillips, in August before the expiry of his contract.

HE WAS TOLD TO ANSWER TO CHARGES OF GROSS MISCONDUCT THAT INCLUDE MAKING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SANPARKS AND CERTAIN OFFICIALS, CHALLENGING AUTHORITY AND BEING DISRESPECTFUL.
Phillips, City Press has been told, was allegedly implicated in the allegations employees put to the investigation team.

But SANParks said he left for “personal reasons”. He took leave when the investigation started and then resigned.

In Khosa’s suspension letter he was told to answer to charges of gross misconduct that include making allegations against SANParks and certain officials, challenging authority and being disrespectful.

“The investigation will look into your apparent behaviour that is damaging to the image of SANParks and/or mission of SANParks, bringing SANParks’ name into disrepute, non-adherence to the grievance policy and procedure and matters related thereto,” said the suspension letter, signed by chief ranger Nicholus Funda.

Black employees have told City Press about being assaulted, maimed and charged on baseless allegations of rhino poaching.

Khosa’s union, the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers, has dismissed SANParks’ allegations against Khosa as being “vague”.

Khosa declined to comment for fear of facing more charges.

“Our office is facing difficulties in responding to your allegations in that your letter, specifically paragraph one, which was meant to address the allegations levelled against our member, are vague.”

The union’s case management officer, Siphiwe Ngalo, asked SANParks to provide further particulars about the allegations Khosa made against SANParks, as well as the officials he had mentioned.

It asked what authority he had challenged and what alleged disrepute he had brought to SANParks.

SANParks spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla, said Khosa’s suspension would not be discussed in the public domain.

Phaahla confirmed that SANParks had received the final report into the investigation but declined to share its findings and recommendations.

“We are not able share the details as we have repeatedly implored your publication to respect the process as it is highly regulated and complex. This was an internal investigation and affected stakeholders are being engaged,” he said.

Regarding Phillips’ resignation, Phaahla repeated that it was a “personal choice”.

“He was not implicated in any way by the outcomes of the investigation. More than 80% of the allegations levelled against Kruger management were not substantiated,” he said.

SANParks, said Phaahla, was building social cohesion among its staff through various internal programmes as part of nation building, but that did not mean there was racism in the organisation.

Although Phaahla downplayed the allegations of racism, incidents reported in the Kruger National Park suggest otherwise, City Press has been told.

Is this Raymond Khosa , the trails guide

Phaahla confirmed that SANParks had received the final report into the investigation but declined to share its findings and recommendations.

If they don't release the report there will be no end to allegations, rumours and speculations.

This is indeed why Glen resigned, as said, IMO.



Raymond Khoza: an inspirational story about passion for a guiding career

If you ever were to meet a person oozing with a love for life, an engaging manner and an ease with meeting people, it would be Raymond Khosa, seasoned field and trails guide in the Kruger Park. In the few minutes of talking to him, you will realise his razor sharp memory for facts, people’s journeys and his career that started with an EcoTraining course 14 years ago.
Raymond_Khoza

Raymond_Khoza

16 years ago, this young African man along with 10 other individuals, had fortune come their way when they were selected to attend a sponsored four week EcoTraining Tracking course. An international guest on safari in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve of South Africa was inspired by the role of trackers in the safari industry. The Londolozi guest hosted a fashion show in Europe to raise funds which were successfully attained and given to an NGO, the Africa Foundation. The Africa Foundation managed the process of selecting and enrolling 10 worthy candidates onto the EcoTraining Tracking course. Raymond and his fellow course participants started honing their tracking skills and studying all there is to know about Africa’s wildlife.

Upon completion and graduation of the course, the doors of Raymond’s future were flung wide open. Raymond began his safari guide career in 2004 with the Kruger National Park based at the Berg en Dal camp as a safari guide. In 2010 Raymond was promoted to senior Field Guide of Lower Sabie camp in Kruger Park in preparation for the World Cup Soccer visitors. Only three months later, Raymond was promoted to Head Guide of Berg en Dal camp. The promotions kept coming and in May 2013, Raymond was promoted to the status of a Wilderness Trails Ranger at Wolhuter Trails camp, one of the oldest camps in the park dating back to 1978. From there he was moved to Napi Trails in the Pretoriuskop area as a Trails Ranger.

https://www.ecotraining.co.za/raymond-k ... ng-career/



Wonderful place, terrible guide!
Review of Napi Wilderness Trail
Reviewed 7 April 2018 via mobile

Having done 5 of these walking trails (= huge fan!) and always giving them 5 stars, it really pains me to rate this one with only 2 stars.
First star is for the location and accommodation, and the sightings, which were superb.
Second star to Siza, the cook, who managed to create great veggie meals with minimal notice of vegetarianism, and the loveliest smile.

BUT...
our guide (Raymond) was nothing less than a sad disgrace to his profession: barely understandable, belligerent, hostile, uninformative...
clearly this guy has had enough of entertaining “stupid, white tourists” and he made it very clear that that’s what we were.

Much as I love Napi, I do not ever want to see Raymond Khosa ever again, so will have to book Sweni or Metsi Metsi next time.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/ShowUserR ... _Park.html

From hero to zero

Being talked so much about has probably gone to his head and he has become insolent

This sort of feedback obviously gets back to management, and some people cannot take criticism...speculating?

https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/san ... n-34519274

SANParks blamed for nepotism, corruption and maladministration
PRETORIA NEWS / 10 OCTOBER 2019, 06:49AM / RAPULA MOATSHE



Pretoria - SA National Parks (SANParks) has come under scathing attack, with the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers accusing it of perpetuating nepotism, corruption and maladministration.
During a media briefing yesterday, the union’s national organiser, Solly Malema, alleged that SANParks tended to favour white employees.


He cited an incident involving a chief pilot who “was charged with fraud” and given an ultimatum to either resign or be demoted.

Malema questioned why black employees who got into trouble with SANParks were “never given an opportunity to (choose) an option, but were just dismissed because they were black”.

Malema was accompanied by the union’s general secretary, Success Mataitsane, who threatened to mobilise workers to go on strike should their issues not be addressed urgently.

“Rhino poaching has escalated as there are private operators in the wilderness areas of the parks - without anyone noticing whether the rhinos are safe from such strangers. And recently there has been the killing of rangers by poachers,” he said.

He further slammed the practice of outsourcing services at SANParks, saying this was done to enrich a few individuals.

Both Malema and Mataitsane claimed SANParks was sitting on a report compiled following an investigation into corruption and maladministration at the organisation.

“We demand that SANParks release its investigation report, stop the outsourcing of services and restore terms and conditions of employment relating to Sundays, overtime and public holidays,” said Malema.

Mataitsane said the union had knocked on the door of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, asking for government intervention at SANParks.

SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said the entity was aware of the grievances of one employee at Kruger National Park.

“So serious and wide-ranging were these grievances and allegations that SANParks has gone over and beyond normal business practice to investigate and resolve them. This includes appointing an independent investigation by advocate Boyce Mkhize and numerous interventions by management, HR and even the SANParks CEO to understand the facts (if any) in these serious allegations,” he said.

He said the time line for the case stretched back to February and that the employee had now been suspended.

Thakhuli said the report on the investigation remained internal and classified as various individuals were named. “It is also with sadness that we watch media and a trade union erroneously label the said employee as a ‘whistle-blower’ when he has not been able to supply a single piece of evidence to the serious allegations he has made,” he said.

Pretoria News

“Rhino poaching has escalated as there are private operators in the wilderness areas of the parks - without anyone noticing whether the rhinos are safe from such strangers. And recently there has been the killing of rangers by poachers,” he said.

If you cannot speak and don't know what you are saying, it would be much better not to talk