R2.5m parks pay-out over tourists’ goring by buffalo

SA National Parks (SanParks) this week paid out a hefty figure of over R2.5-million in damages after a rogue buffalo gored four tourists at its Mountain Zebra National Park in 2010, killing one of them and seriously injuring the other three.

Pieter and Marianne Sieberhagen and Marie and Johann Schmidt – all in their 60s – went to the park near Cradock in July 2010.

According to court papers, the day after their arrival they set off on one of the walking trails. The two couples from Somerset West had barely left their chalet when a single wild buffalo suddenly and savagely attacked them.

Johann Schmidt, who managed the Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, died at the scene. The others suffered severe injuries. Marie Schmidt suffered multiple rib fractures, a fractured clavicle, lacerations and abrasions. So severe was the goring the soft tissue on her thigh was “degloved”.

Sieberhagen suffered a long laceration on his upper right leg, and massive injury to his right hip.

So severe were his injuries that the former CEO of Limecoal in Somerset West could not return to work full-time. His wife also suffered serious abrasions and lacerations and broke her left ankle.

Schmidt sued SanParks for a total or R2.826-million in damages for the loss of her husband’s support, past and future medical expenses and general damages which included shock, pain, suffering, disability, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of the amenities of life.

Sieberhagen sued for a total of R1.49-million and his wife for R706 000.

They said that given a previous serious buffalo attack on a tourist in 2008 in the same park, SanParks should have been aware that people using the facilities faced the possibility of being seriously injured or killed by wild animals, particularly buffalo.

They said the wildlife authority owed the public a legal duty to take reasonable measures to ensure their security and wellbeing, particularly on designated walks.

It had been negligent not to do so through the provision of electrical fencing and suitably qualified armed game rangers to accompany them on walks.

SanParks last year admitted liability for the incident but it has taken almost another year for them to settle on the damages.

Schmidt has accepted a settlement offer of R1.7-million. Pieter and Marianne Sieberhagen agreed to a payout of R411 703 and R476 893, respectively.

SanParks regional communications manager Fayroush Ludick said she was not immediately aware of the settlement and asked that questions be e-mailed to her.