PERMITS FOR OPERATORS USING KNP BORDER GATES

PERMITS FOR OPERATORS USING KNP BORDER GATES

By BRIAN KAJENGO 

All business operators who travel through the Kruger National Park (KNP)’s border gates i.e. Giriyondo and Pafuri, transporting passengers to and from Mozambique will be required to produce valid passenger transport permits as from 1 August 2014.

These meant for communities residing in the Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique, who work in South Africa and often make use of the two border gates going home.

This follows the signing of an agreement with relevant stakeholders from local government and cross border transport agencies in South Africa and Mozambique; which took place recently. The control measure also comes after the rule requiring visitors to stay over one night in either Kruger or Limpopo National Park before crossing the border, came into effect in December 2011 and is in force.

“There have been incidents wherein passengers were seen bundled at the back of bakkies, with canopies that provided very little protection and infringed on their basic human rights. This restriction comes into effect in order to ensure that people get transported in regulated public transport; and that operators using our border gates only carry passengers and not commercial goods,” said the General Manager: Communications & Marketing, William Mabasa.

Without a registered passenger transport permit, operators refused admission and they would need to use other routes outside the Park leading to their destination. Application forms for the permits are available at Phalaborwa, Pafuri and Punda Maria Gates.

Limpopo, together with Kruger (South Africa) and Gonarrhezou (Zimbabwe) National Parks form part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park. This conservation area initiated to promote collaboration in the management of shared natural resources along the international boundaries.

“We will continue to tighten up controls at the two border gates as these are meant to afford tourists to travel between these Parks without having to exit the parks. The routes for these border gates are classified as tourists roads and do not allow for commercial traffic therefore the idea is to encourage people to travel from one national park to another;” concluded Mabasa.

        REGULATED CROSS BORDER TRANSPORT RULES

·         As from 1 August 2014, no bakkies transporting passengers via Pafuri and Giriyondo border gates, without the necessary permit allowed to enter the Kruger National Park (KNP). No passengers allowed at the back of an open bakkie.

·         Operators will be required to submit an application form before they can transport passengers.

·         Subject to approval, an annual permit (in a form of decal) allowing the operator to transport passengers via the KNP will be issued.

·         The permit will only allow the operator to transport passengers and their belongings. No commercial goods allowed.

·         Application forms will be available at Phalaborwa, Pafuri and Punda Maria gates as well as the Phalaborwa Regional Office.

·         Applicants should supply a certified copy of cross border road transport permit together with the application form.

·         The decal displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle for clear identification and will be valid for a period of 12 months from the date of issue.

·          All operators will be subjected to the attendance of a KNP induction course

·         Only registered vehicles, carrying up to the maximum of 23 passengers allowed.

·         Only registered trailers that towed as prescribed by the Road Traffic Act be allowed.

·         Drivers must be in a possession of valid items as follows:

o        Public transport permit to operate

o        a valid driver’s licence,

o        Proof of passenger liability insurance in place

o        Registered as an operator in terms of the Road Traffic Act

o        Vehicle must have a valid roadworthy certificate and vehicle licence disk

o        Must have a passenger list system in place that confirms passenger passport/ID details

Operators must read and understand the rules and regulations of the Park as stipulated on the green entry permit and ensure all passengers adhere to them at all times.