ADELE DU TOIT
Donderdag 22 Mei 2014
Mbombela. – ’n Besoeker aan die Krugerwildtuin is ontevrede omdat ’n boete nie opgelê is nie aan iemand wat by die venster van ’n voertuig met diplomatieke nommerplate uitgehang het.
Cornelius Claasen het tydens ’n besoek op 2 Mei naby Onder-Sabie op dié voertuig afgekom.
“Dit lyk of hierdie diplomate onaantasbaar is, die wildtuin se reëls kan oortree nes hulle lus kry en niks word daaromtrent gedoen nie.
“Ander besoekers word beboet as hulle so optree.
“Dit is regtig hartseer,” het Claasen gesê.
Hy het die saak by Johan Nel, hoofverkeersbeampte in die wildtuin, aangemeld.
Nel het hom egter meegedeel dat die voertuig diplomate vervoer het en dat hulle diplomatieke immuniteit het.
Ike Phaahla, woordvoerder van die wildtuin, het gesê normaalweg word boetes in sulke gevalle opgelê.
“Indien jy ’n buitelander vang waar hy die reëls oortree, moet hy dadelik die boete betaal omdat ons die boete nie uit hom sal kry nadat hy die land verlaat het nie.
“Ons hande is egter afgekap wanneer dit diplomate is. Hul diplomatieke regte skeld hulle kwyt van boetes,” het Phaahla gesê.
Boetes vir sulke oortredings wissel gewoonlik van R500 tot R1 500.
Translation:
A visitor to the Kruger Park is unhappy because a fine was not given to someone who was hanging out of a window of a vehicle with diplomatic numberplates.
Cornelius Claasen witnessed this during a visit to the park on 2 May near Lower Sabie.
"It seems as if this diplomat is untouchable, they can violate the rules when they feel like it and nothing can be done about it. Other visitors are fined if they behave like this. It is really sad."
He reported the matter to Johan Nel, chief traffic officer in the park. Nel said that the vehicle was transporting diplomats and that they had diplomatic immunity.
Ike Phaala, Park's spokesman, said that normally fines would be issued in cases like this.
"If a foreigner is caught breaking the rules, they must pay the fine immediately because we will not get the money once they leave the country. But our hands are tied when it comes to diplomats. Their diplomatic privileges indemnify them against fines."
Fines for such violations range from R500 to R1500.
There's no escaping the nationality of the diplomat in the pic.....they could have a field day killing rhinos and then just get off scot-free!! 
