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Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:14 am
by Richprins
This morning a member of AW confronted a group of visitors at Sable Dam near Phalaborwa, after noticing the vehicle speeding recklessly on the dirt road nearby.

The visitors, some of whom appeared under the influence of alcohol, had forged entry by changing the dates and number of occupants on an old entrance permit!

The AW member escorted the taxi to the gate, where staff were alerted, and the ranger summoned.

Staff indicated that the visitors would be fined and the driver of the taxi banned from the Park.


More to follow!

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:27 am
by Amoli
Good work AW member. Thanks RP. ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:44 am
by Vleisvreter
GoodJOB O/\ . Forging entry forms? No surprise there. In December 2011 we camped at Skukuza , On the 25th Dec my young girls went to clean dishes to be met up with a group of adults sitting around a Taxi drinking, vile language and making a huge noise. Later that night, that group went for a swim and the following morning, volka bottles and beer bottles were found in the pool. The adult group that had been sitting at the kitchen area who were drinking then decided it would be a good thing to sleep over in the Laundry room for the night. How appropriate when we pay so much money to enjoy a relaxing holiday? (Makes one think just how safe our belongings are in the camp.)Campers who complained to the camp manager was bribed to please keep this quiet from the media with a free night drive( cannot say if they took it or not) On the 27th Dec, my mother in law and my then 10 year old daughter went to the Restaurant and shop to then stop in at the toilets close to the shop side entrance to be greeted with a young naked lady washing at the basins and using the soap dispenser to wash her private body parts. Wild card is a joke too, i wonder how many people abuse this system.

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:48 pm
by General Gump
They had no chance but to surrender. Sprocky did a great job in telling them that they were driving too fast, making too much noise plus there was the drinking issue. He told them to meet him at the gate and they did. I had walked outside to check on my belongings on the back of my bakkie and found Sprocky busy sorting out the rowdy taxi at Sable dam. I must add the previous crowd who booked the hide were also noisy and vacated the hide about 2hrs too late. I will send Sanparks a photo of the culprits vehicle still in the hide. /b] 0:

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:27 pm
by Sprocky
:shock: Geez, you guys can make a good story. -O I'll go back through the thread just now to see who called me a woosy. :twisted:

The truth is I was shocked. :shock: Ei

It all happened like this...

I took a break from watching the Le Mans and myself and the LO headed in the park for a short drive. It ended up being just that. On the Sable Loop heading to the hide, this pink taxi overtook me at a rate of knots. I got a bit upset but thought better and let the idiot go leaving me in a dust cloud. We continued our drive to the hide. When we got there, there were lots of cars so I told the LO that we will just turn back and stop later to eat out toasted sarmies. One of the cars was the pink taxi, as I was turning to leave the little one said that there were beers in the taxi. I drove up to it and the sliding door was wide open and nobody near it. There were lots of beers lying around inside. I parked and waited for them to come out. This only took about two minutes and you could hear the noise exiting the hide. When they tried to get in I walked up to them and asked you the driver was. At first they kept quiet, then finally the driver came to me. I asked if he knew the rules about alcohol and speed, which he answered almost right. So he knew that they were not allowed to be drinking but thought that the speed limit on dirt was 50.

The fun started when I told them that I was going to report them, then they started apologising, but I told them it was too late to be sorry. I asked the driver for the entry permit and noticed that the number of occupants was changed from 2 to 14 in pen. They couldn't tell me who changed it so I told them that I have to take a photo of it. By now they thought that I was an official, well I did have my AW shirt on and the correct looking shorts and canvas sandals. I took a pic with my phone but it never focussed properly. I then asked them to stand out of the way as I need a photo of the beer cans, and they obliged. Here is one pic of the inside of the taxi.

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I then told them that I am going to escort them to the gate, to which they agreed, I couldn't believe what was going on and no, I did not have a gun. They pulled away and drove off and as I was about to, this friendly bloke came up to my window and started chatting. He said that he recognised my shirt and introduced himself to me, it was General Gump (Forest). We had a short chat and I then left to find the taxi that I thought was long gone by now. When I got to the tar road, there he was, driving very slowly towards the gate. All that was left for me to do now was to follow it to the gate. This shot was taken on our way to the gate.

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While driving I phoned the gate and told them what had happened and gave them the registration number. At the gate I called the driver and took him into reception with me. The first thing that the guy at reception asked me is if I gave him the correct reg number as that vehicle had not entered according to their computer system. Reception then asked him for his permit, to which he said that I never gave it back to him. Anyway, after a few minutes of negotiating he finally found his permit. Now the real shock came to light. The permit was in a Mr Taljaard's name and the permit was for 11 June which was changed in pen to 17 June.

This is the exit permit. You can clearly see the date change.

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The entry permit also clearly shows how the number of people have been changed to 14.

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The reception contacted Ben van Eerden and he said that they must pay the full amount for each person and then they must not be allowed in again. On top of this, we had to photocopy the drivers licence and get all of his details and the vehicle details. They ended up having to pay R672 to be able to leave the park. The driver will be contacted tomorrow to go to the gate where they will fine him for illegal entry, drinking alcohol and making noise. I asked what will happen if he doesn't go to the gate and they said that they will then lay a charge at the police. They will also phone me to let me know exactly what he gets fined for and what the amount is. The driver and the taxi have already been banned from entering the park again.

This is the taxi waiting while the driver and a few occupants were pleading with me to let them go.

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As soon as I hear from the gate staff I will keep you all updated. \O

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:34 pm
by lowveldboy
GIVE THAT MAN A BELLS!!!!!

^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^

Well done Sprocky!!!!!

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:37 pm
by Dewi
Well done that man. \O

Shame your meet with the General was spoilt.

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:38 pm
by Lisbeth
Good work, Sprocky \O Many would have washed their hands and just left ^Q^ ^Q^

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:39 pm
by iNdlovu
Well done Sprocks, I take my hat off to you. If every law abiding visitor would do similar stuff in the park, we may just be able to educate the few who make it so unpleasant.
Sprocs, you're da man \O \O

Re: Taxi Busted for Various Offences By Tourist in KNP

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:42 pm
by Flutterby
Well done Sprocks!!! ^Q^ ^Q^ Just a pity your Father's Day had to be ruined! :O^