Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

[Richprins]

Herewith a translation of Monday's Beeld article for our foreign or not so foreign viewers:

Beeld
This Pink Taxi may not enter Kruger Park again.
2012-06-17 21:24
Elaine Swanepoel

The driver of a pink taxi was fined and banned from entering the Kruger National Park yesterday morning.

That after he was driving the vehicle recklessly and also forged an entry permit.

Wayne Calitz , a member of Africa Wild, an organization that aims to help keep the park clean and green, spotted and confronted the vehicle at the Sable Dam near Phalaborwa . He could not say at what speed the vehicle was driving.

"I noticed many beer cans in the vehicle and gained the idea that some ​​the passengers were under the influence of alcohol."

He asked the driver for his entry permit and noticed the number of people indicated had been altered from 2 to 14 using a pen.

"I asked them to accompany me to the gate and was surprised when the driver immediately agreed."

At the Kruger gate (sic.) it was noted that the access permit was falsified. The driver had also submitted the wrong registration number.

The ranger on duty, Ben van Eeden, was summoned. According to Calitz Van Eeden ordered that the full amount for each passenger must be paid and an additional fine of R672 be imposed (sic).

The vehicle is banned from entering the Park again. The Kruger National Park has not yet responded to inquiries.

[Mel]

Thank you, RP!

[Tshukudu]

I have already sent a message to news24 asking abouth the incorrect info in their article. So we will wait and see

[Sprocky]

I have sent them a message as well, and told them if they want the truth they can contact me. I gave them all my contact details, like you say...let's see.

[Richprins]

It would be interesting to verify if fines were indeed issued in this instance, as Kruger set a great precedent regarding the fining of the contractor who killed the seven Impala recently...over R20 000.

No news on either front yet, regarding confirmation of fines...

[Richprins]

An interesting comment from social media:

how stupid!!! they got thrown out so they could go drive, drunk and be possible homicide suspects??? stupid! they should have been arrested on the spot!

[Richprins]

It is also of interest that no media release has been placed on SanParks' own website's home page regarding this "coup" for law enforcement in Kruger...

[Sprocky]

An interesting comment from social media:

how stupid!!! they got thrown out so they could go drive, drunk and be possible homicide suspects??? stupid! they should have been arrested on the spot!

On a positive to that one, I didn't smell alcohol on the driver. If I did I would not have allowed him to drive away.

[Richprins]

Touche!

[Flutterby]

An interesting comment from social media:

how stupid!!! they got thrown out so they could go drive, drunk and be possible homicide suspects??? stupid! they should have been arrested on the spot!

Where was this comment RP?

When I checked the News24 article this morning this was the only comment:

Charles Dumbwin: June 18, 2012 at 15:36
Am I going mad? This is the same article as an hour ago, except this time the comments have been removed.
what the?