SANParks honours the Kruger’s best at its achievement awards
These awards are a fitting way to reward the park's staff for their hard work throughout the year.
The southern sections of the Kruger National Park (KNP) shone at the recent achievement awards as many rangers and facilities were rewarded for their excellence in 2024.
The Kruger National Park Achievement Awards were held in Skukuza on November 1. Over 120 employees received individual awards. Among the award recipients were those who were outstanding in the workplace, those who gave outstanding service to clients, those who worked well as a team and those who had developed and honed others’ skills.
Awards weren’t limited to only individuals, though, as park facilities were recognised, too. The award for the best entrance gate of the year is based on a gate that has come up with the most innovative measures in meeting the financial and human resource constraints that the organisation sees itself facing.
The gate should display long-term stability in sustaining its performance by having supportive stakeholders and neighbours. SANParks felt the entrance that best met this criteria was none other than Crocodile Bridge, who were handed the award.
Not only are the staff in the southern section of the park brilliant, but brave, too.
Sipho Lubisi, a hut attendant at the Berg en Dal Rest Camp, was handed a special bravery award during the ceremony. On February 20, he showed remarkable courage through his swift action when a hyena had clamped onto a woman’s hand through a window.
Despite having no training when it comes confrontations with wildlife, he armed himself with a broomstick and rushed straight to the scene where he repeatedly struck at the animal, compelling it to let go. Lubisi, still in shock thereafter, galvanised some friends and colleagues who joined in and drove the hyena away.
Finally, SANParks also handed out a lifetime achievement award on the evening. This award in 2024 went to retired ranger Batista Baloi, who was stationed at the Stolsnek ranger post. He started as a General Worker at Stolsnek in 1977 at only 18 years old.
Due to his dedication, with just four years of service, Baloi was then appointed as a field ranger. “Batista has always been a man of honour and integrity throughout his career life,” read the award’s citation note on the evening.
“Batista’s absolute commitment and loyalty to his work and the organisation was the engine that elevated his career phase to phase from general worker to field ranger, corporal, sergeant and eventually his promotion to assistant ranger in special operations.”
After 47 years of loyal service to SANParks, Baloi retired at the end of June. “His massive knowledge of wildlife, servant leadership style and contribution to protecting our country’s natural heritage cannot go unnoticed.”
