Kruger National Park honours employees with achievement awards
The KNP Achievement Awards were awarded to those staff members who have excelled in outstanding service in the workplace.
The Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Achievement Awards took place at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre in Skukuza on November 1.
More than 120 employees received awards, displaying great pleasure and pride as they walked to the stage to collect their tokens of appreciation.
The award recipients were individuals and teams.
Some awards categories were the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Bravery Award, the Ranger Post of the Year, Camp of the Year, Bush Camp of the Year, Entrance Gate of the Year, Leadership Award, Managing Executive Special Awards and Appreciation Awards.
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Some of the winners have been working for the KNP for many years, but went beyond their expected duties with drive and energy.
There were those who had shown bravery and rescued their colleagues in the face of imminent danger, disregarding their own safety.
The ceremony also served as a platform to honour external stakeholders for their continued interest and commitment to assist the park in achieving its objectives.
The management presented a lifetime award to a ranger, Batista Baloi, and he received a standing ovation for his 47 years in the KNP. Baloi joined the park in 1977 and retired with an unblemished personal record at the end of June.
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He started working as a general worker, then became a field ranger, corporal and sergeant, and was finally promoted to assistant section ranger residing under the Special Operations Unit.
All finalists went through a selection phase based on stringent criteria. Apart from their extra-mile achievements, individual nominees had to possess qualities such as independence and progressive thinking, initiative and creativity, a positive approach to work, leadership and the ability to interact at all levels, regardless of training and skills.
The awards for facilities were judged on areas such as overall and financial performance, implementation of various systems and managing guest complaints and compliments, compliance with policies, as well as general neatness of the facility.
