Check the credentials of anyone claiming to represent SA National Parks or the Kruger Park before contributing any money
THE world-renowned Kruger National Park (KNP) has issued a warning to members of the public and its staff to be on the look out for people who falsely and publicly claim to represent the park.
Abe Sibiya, the KNP's managing executive, said these people were going around offering customer care facilities to the public despite the fact that the KNP had formal procedures and ways of interacting with the public.
"It has come to our attention that there are on-line forums that claim to represent the South African National Parks (SANParks), in particular the KNP, by offering customer care facilities that discuss conservation and tourism related matters to guests.
"We would like to put it on record that SANParks already has its own established formal procedures and channels for handling guest feedback and does not need a third party to deal with issues on its behalf," Sibiya said.
He said these people said in their on-line forums that their customer care facilities were meant to assist with the reporting of issues such as incidents or complaints concerning national parks.
Sibiya said the administrators of these forums encouraged the public, either through their own forum or the media, that issues such as complaints and queries should be posted on their forum.
He said the people in turn approached staff members at the relevant parks or camps for follow-up and feedback.
Sibiya said of concern was that on-line operators also claimed on their forums that they raised funds for various conservation causes, which they handed over to the SANParks Honorary Rangers, though they do not give any explanation why they would do so.
"SANParks has a healthy relationship and direct contact with the Honorary Rangers who do not need any third party.
"We would like to advise members of the public to resist any illegal fund-raising approaches made in SANParks' name because we believe this action constitutes fraud," warned Sibiya.
He warned people to check the credentials of anyone claiming to represent SANParks or KNP before contributing money.
Kruger National Park warns public of illegal fund-raisers
Check the credentials of anyone claiming to represent SA National Parks or the Kruger Park before contributing any money
THE world-renowned Kruger National Park (KNP) has issued a warning to members of the public and its staff to be on the look out for people who falsely and publicly claim to represent the park.
Abe Sibiya, the KNP's managing executive, said these people were going around offering customer care facilities to the public despite the fact that the KNP had formal procedures and ways of interacting with the public.
"It has come to our attention that there are on-line forums that claim to represent the South African National Parks (SANParks), in particular the KNP, by offering customer care facilities that discuss conservation and tourism related matters to guests.
"We would like to put it on record that SANParks already has its own established formal procedures and channels for handling guest feedback and does not need a third party to deal with issues on its behalf," Sibiya said.
He said these people said in their on-line forums that their customer care facilities were meant to assist with the reporting of issues such as incidents or complaints concerning national parks.
Sibiya said the administrators of these forums encouraged the public, either through their own forum or the media, that issues such as complaints and queries should be posted on their forum.
He said the people in turn approached staff members at the relevant parks or camps for follow-up and feedback.
Sibiya said of concern was that on-line operators also claimed on their forums that they raised funds for various conservation causes, which they handed over to the SANParks Honorary Rangers, though they do not give any explanation why they would do so.
"SANParks has a healthy relationship and direct contact with the Honorary Rangers who do not need any third party.
"We would like to advise members of the public to resist any illegal fund-raising approaches made in SANParks' name because we believe this action constitutes fraud," warned Sibiya.
He warned people to check the credentials of anyone claiming to represent SANParks or KNP before contributing money.
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