SanParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni accused of Sexual Assault and Assault

[Richprins]

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATION COMMANDER, SKUKUZA SAPS
DATE:2021-05-06
SEXUAL ASSAULT SECTION 5 ACT 32/2007 AND ASSAULT GHB
A 35 year old woman alleged that on Thursday 2021-05-06 at 21:00 she was at Kruger National Park, skukuza camp at salati restaurant to be more precisely.
She was having some wine and food experience at the restaurant, while busy a friend colleague approached her saying there is a gentleman outside who wants to meet her and she followed her friend where the gentleman was, on arrival the gentleman introduced himself to her as Fundisile Mketeni and asked the victim if she knows him and the victim said she does not know him.
The gentleman told the victim to Google him and she Googled him, pictures of the gentleman showed up and information that he is the CEO of Kruger National Park. They chatted and later on that day the CEO Mr Mketeni invited the victim and her friend to his house in skukuza staff village. The victim and the friend went to Mr Mketeni’s place, Mr Mketeni welcomed and offered them a wine and they went outside by the Lapa to join the other guests.
The victim alleges that after couple of minutes Mr Mketeni asked her if she was comfortable to go to a private place with him where they can talk in private, the victim and Mr Mketeni went to the inside the house. Mr Mketeni poured her a glass of wine and she followed him to his bedroom. In the bedroom, she alleges that Mr Mketeni closed the door and started touching her inappropriately and tried to kiss her but she pulled away, after the victim pulled back he then forceful pulled her towards him and she pushed him away for the second time.
The victim said, after he pushed him away Mr Mketeni started insulting her, saying that she is useless, ugly and that he knows beautiful women than her and further say he invited her to his house and drink his wine and this is how she thank him.
The victim alleges that she tried to open the door and Mr Mketeni pushed her and started hitting her, he pulled her down with her hair and kicked her while she was on the floor. The victim tried her way out of the room and she managed to open the door and run outside where everyone was, Mr Mketeni followed her. The victim cried for help, she asked her friend to ask her boyfriend to take her home and while talking to her friend, Mr Mketeni came and stand in front of her and one of the guest said to Mr Mketeni “Boss relax we got this” and the victim thought the guy was trying to stop Mr Mketeni from coming to attack her, the same guy threatened and told her ‘the victim’ to not even think of reporting Mr Mketeni, because he is a man in power and he works with the police so no one will believe her.
The boyfriend of the victim’s friend car was not locked and she got inside, she alleges that the boyfriend dragged her outside his car and tripped and kicked her all over the her body until she pretended to be dead. She was left lying on the ground, when everyone left the scene she got up and jumped the fence because the gate was looked.
The suspects appeared today 2021-05-10 before Bushbuckridge Magistrate court. Each granted a bail of R2000, the case postponed to 02 June 2021.
Ends
Enquiries:
Sergeant Mashaba Jo-anne
079 891 5278

[Richprins]

SanParks should release a statement soon, and he will be/is placed on suspension pending the outcome.

[Richprins]

REF: 9/2/2-21-GKL
11 May 2021
MEDIA RELEASE (CEOALLEGATIONS) 1 of 1
For Immediate Release
SANParks CEO TAKES SPECIAL LEAVE AMID SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS
South African National Parks (SANParks), Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fundisile Mketeni will take special leave from his work engagements following assault and sexual assault complaints laid against him on Friday, 7 May 2021 in Skukuza, Kruger National Park.
SANParks Board Chairperson, Ms Joanne Yawitch said in line with SANParks’ commitment to ethical conduct and the seriousness of the allegations, Mr Mketeni has requested to take special leave until such time that this matter has been resolved and the law has taken its course.
Mr Mketeni appeared in court on Monday, 11 May 2021 together with three other individuals on similar charges (two males employed by SANParks and a female who is not a SANParks employee).
“The Board of SANParks views the allegations made in an extremely serious light and will allow the court proceedings to take their course and reach conclusions on the allegations. The Board will however investigate whether the circumstances surrounding the allegations led to any improper or illegal conduct which may affect the employment relationship,” concludes Yawitch.
Dr Luthando Dziba, the Managing Executive: Conservation Services has been appointed as Acting CEO.
****Ends****
Issued by: South African National Parks (SANParks)
Corporate Communications: Tel: 012 426 5170
Media Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli: SANParks Acting Head of Communications Tel: 012 426 5203 cell: 073 373 4999 or email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
Ike Phaahla: Kruger National Park, General Manager: Communications and Marketing Tel: 013 735 4000 cell: 083 673 6974 isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org
For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org
Follow us on Twitter @SANParks
Like Us on Facebook: South African National Parks
Follow us on Instagram @sanparks
Talk to us directly by joining the parks e-forum: www.sanparks.org/forum/

[Lisbeth]

An extremely strange story or maybe the police statement has been written by somebody who should not be doing that kind of thing

On the other hand, if the CEO has taken a special leave, something must have happened

[Richprins]

It is a normal SAPS statement, Lis. English is often not their strongest weapon, obviously!

But this story is terribly concerning if this is the behaviour of the SanParks CEO, and well done to the lady who braved the potential onslaught! GBV is a curse in our country.

[Lisbeth]

It is hard to understand how a person like that can be selected as CEO of SANParks. His ethics are non-excistent and he has taken advantage of his position to commit a disgusting crime

[Klipspringer]

Where comes this odd SAPS media statement from? Social media fabricated?

[Richprins]

It comes from Skukuza as said, Klippies! A standard statement.

[Klipspringer]

If it was a standard statement you would find it publicly available on the internet

[Lisbeth]

The media release is on the Sanparks website, so it must be true.