"THE incident in which two tourists were hijacked at the Newington Gate road on the western side of the Sabi Sand Reserve took place far from the Kruger National Park and yet, because of incorrect media reports, the general message that has gone out to the public - nationally and internationally - is that the KNP was involved in another hijacking incident."
This message came from David Mabunda, director of the KNP, who told Travel Now that he was "greatly disappointed" that the journalists from national television stations and newspapers did not bother to consult him and find out the true facts before reporting on the incident.
"One station even featured the KNP logo as backdrop to the news story, stating that the incident took place at the park's so-called Newington Gate. We do not have such a gate. Why did they not bother to find out exactly where the incident took place?"
He added that he is by no means opposed to these types of incidents being aired, but that they should be based on fact, as misreporting does a lot of harm. Mabunda said he intended to take it up with the SABC evening news department.
The director says crime in the area affects all the stakeholders and he proposes that all the parties get together and form one co-ordinating committee, tapping into each other's expertise at effectively dealing with crime.
According to him, eight suspects have been arrested, and two others identified, in relation to two incidents of tourist hijackings which took place outside the Kruger National Park's Numbi Gate earlier in the year.
"This is solely due to the combined efforts of the South African Police Services, KNP and the community."
(Adéle Mackenzie)
