KNP personnel have their hands full with bookings and allegations
Since the start of level 2 of the nationwide lockdown, the park has welcomed more than 10 000 guests, this includes day visitors.
1 day ago
Linzetta Calitz
With bookings opening and guests more than eager to have their share of nature again, the reservation system has been under heavy strain and caused headaches all around.
Pair that with the resurfaced allegation that staff are occupying some of the chalets in Skukuza and refuse to leave, the employees have their hands full.
Ike Phaahla, spokesperson for the Kruger National Park (KNP), said there are staff still residing in the rest camp, but also said the allegation that they refuse to move is simply not true.
“It would be shooting themselves in the foot, because paying customers are the ones who pay the salaries.”
SANParks has gone as far as naming and shaming the women who initially made these claims on social media. It called the claims “racist, factually incorrect and defamatory”.
Management has consulted with the park’s legal advisers to lay both criminal and civil charges against the identified individuals. It said, “This is done to maintain the integrity of the organisation and to teach those who distribute false news a lesson.”
Chalets in Skukuza Rest Camp during level 2 of lockdown.
Among other things, the post claims that “another heritage site (was) turned into a squatter camp” and that there were “washing lines from one chalet to the other! Braais, noise and undisciplined children screaming all the time, booze running freely and no social distance, first-hand experience – it’s a sh**hole!”
Phaahla said, “I can confirm that we have colleagues who are still in the rest camp.”
He said they were in a process. “We moved close to about five or 10 families on Friday. Ten chalets were freed. They (the employees) have gone back because it is safe to do so.”
Besides the refurbishments that are being done, the workers (essential) were also moved as a safety precaution in case there was a Covid-19 outbreak, to prevent community spread.
“We had to put in sanitisers in the living quarters. We had to allocate specific rooms, specific common ablutions to groups. It is administrative work, which we have done and we are happy with the progress.
“I think some of the comments on social media are unfortunate.” Phaahla does not deny that there were washing lines put up, but said they only saw about two or three, “and people have to be clean to come to work”.
“We have spoken to the colleagues. On Friday, our managing executive had two meetings with them.” It was suggested that they would rather use the balconies because “it is unsightly, to be honest”.
A few washing lines were present, but the situation has been exaggerated on social media.
On the subject of bookings, Phaahla said, “We have had an influx and a surge of bookings. Also people trying to enquire about previous bookings that they’ve done.
“The system crashed on a daily basis; it does that, but our technicians are working hard to rectify that fault. We are also taking emails and calls.
“There is a delay in replying to those because of the number of enquiries that we are getting, but in terms of confirmed bookings that we’ve had thus far, those people who were promised accommodation have been accommodated, either in the camps or in the rest camps, so on that front we still are fine.
“One other thing that customers don’t understand is that when people left, you know, animals spent a lot more time in areas where there were people.
“Some bungalows’ thatches have been damaged by monkeys and baboons. So we have some repairs that we have to do.”
He said they expected the number of guests to come up nicely, “but obviously we have to do it by phases. We are testing the system that we have in this new world and once we are certain about it, we can gradually increase.
“We think that we can go as high as 100 per cent, but here in public places we have to have a 50 per cent capacity.
“Is it going to be possible to control it? We are testing the systems and have enough compliance officers who will then guide us in the public places.”
https://lowvelder.co.za/701370/knp-pers ... legations/
