Kruger fires probed
GUTTED: NO REASON TO SUSPECT STAFF MEMBERS, SAYS MANAGEMENT
Two fires in week raze shop and TV room at the national park.
Kruger National Park management has ruled out any staff involvement after experiencing a second fire in less than a week. On Monday, the park said on Twitter that the Berg en Dal restaurant was on fire, gutting two buildings, including a shop, near a rest camp. The other fire also took place near a rest camp,
SANParks spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said the fires were being investigated. “We are still investigating... and we had another fire at Berg en Dal restaurant, which burnt down as well,” he said.
“We are investigating both fires and we are grateful that there have been no fatalities. These fires remain a great concern now that we have experienced two. We are really working to get to the bottom of this.”
According to Thakhuli, the TV hall at Letaba Camp is usually used by staff, but given that the first fire started at night when no staff were on the premises, it was implausible to suspect any staff were involved.
“We don’t have any plans to question staff members and we have not been given any reason to suspect any involvement of our staff in these incidences.”
Thakhuli quashed rumours that workers had been unhappy with management and had been using guest quarters without permission.
In August, SANParks reportedly threatened to file racism charges against two guests at Kruger who allegedly made racist remarks about its employees on Facebook. The pair apparently took issue with staff living in guest lodges.
According to Thakhuli, Kruger management decided to temporarily house staff in guest quarters as an arrangement between the two parties. It was not the result of some feud between staff and management.
“It is not true at all,” he said. “Staff are using the tourism accommodation as part of an approved plan by management.
“Remember that we are now considering better staff accommodation options to ensure the necessary social distancing protocols are met. It is a big lie that they are there of their own accord and we want to encourage anybody spreading these rumours to please stop.”
This month, Democratic Alliance MP James Lorimer, in a statement, called several developments at SANParks into question.
He said he would ask parliament to ask SANParks senior management to explain why staff were living in guest quarters and whether this was blocking guests from getting accommodation. He questioned why much of the park’s guest accommodation was not available.
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