The organisation initiated a search following the appearance of a social media footage which showed someone ignoring conservation regulations and environmental protection measures, said KNP spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli. The footage shows the culprit crossing rivers unlawfully, operating a car recklessly, and driving on roads that were officially closed to the public.

Protected areas are governed by strict environmental legislation, specifically the National Environmental Management Act and the National Environmental Management, Protected Areas Act. 

These laws prohibit activities that endanger biodiversity, damage ecosystems, or threaten the integrity of conservation areas. Non-compliance constitutes a serious offense.

“Driving through rivers, disregarding road closures, and reckless driving in protected areas not only places the lives of the individuals involved at risk, but also endangers wildlife, damages sensitive ecosystems, and compromises infrastructure and visitor safety,” said Thakhuli

Sanparks was working to trace and identify the offender, and once identified, he will face legal consequences, including the withdrawal of access privileges to all protected areas managed by the organisation, noting that gate officials seen in the video encouraging the behaviour will also face consequences for actions contrary to park rules and staff conduct.

Reckless driving also endangers wildlife. Photo: Sanparks 

Members of the public with information that may assist in identifying the person are encouraged to contact Sanparks through official communication channels or the nearest law enforcement authority.

Such conduct won’t be tolerated and will be dealt with through the appropriate legal and administrative channels to ensure the continued protection of the environment and the safety of all visitors within the national park system, Sanparks warned.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities analyse the footage to confirm the identity of the driver and the specific locations where the incidents occurred.

Additional measures are being considered to prevent similar occurrences and to strengthen the enforcement of park regulations at entry points and throughout the interior road networks.

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