SANParks.org Forums

Is there any specific person or persons to whom one can direct any complaint regarding nonorary rangers?
There was this one incident on the last public holiday where we were approached by the rudest and unfriendliest honorary ranger. He was so obnoxious and bossy. And not only once, we came across this person twice, the second time he was even worse.
People realy need to not think that they own a place where they are volunteers, instaed they need to help, in order for it to be better.

The website lists a contact page. [pdf]
Perhaps you could send the chairman an email , morne.

Dear Morne,

Please send me an email at chrisp@sanparks.org and if you send me your phone number I will call you.

We are greatly indebted to the Honorary Rangers as a collective whole, and most in the field are superb. However there are some who lose the plot sometimes and despite undergoing a course on communication with the public some are severely lacking in PR skills. If we can identify the source of your exchange we will certainly take them to task.

Regards

Owl

You say it was a Bank Holiday and in the guy's defence, you may not know what he had been going through with all of the day-trippers. I know it's not a valid excuse but we are all human.

Think if I were a HR who had to do voluntary work at Berg & Dal over a SA public holiday, I will end up with a whole book of complaint against me…..
Personally I believe a bit more “bossiness’” are needed on some issues.
O well, best leave that to the more diplomatic individuals among us.

Once again Jumbo, the emphasis is on voluntary, which then refers to that person choosing to be there on which ever day. He volunteers, he's not asked to be there, he wanted to. And, bossiness is fine, but draw the line at stealing parking spaces, using rude language, interfering with my job, and thinking one can do whatever he pleases because he wears a uniform. Also, i thought HR's may only wear uniform, and the magnetic stickers on their vehicles while on official duty. But, lets just leave it there and let these people do their jobs.

I agree with you on this Morne – it is not acceptable. Seems he was creating more problems than solving them.

Stealing parking space!!!! I will still be able to handle the rude language but not the parking space! Nobody touches my parking….whether you have a uniform or not

I generally think the HRs do a great job, but you always get one or two okes who are doing it because they think its glamorous and that its giving hem an air of responsiblity - vat hom fluffy!

Pity about the rude HR, it spoils the good reputation that these great servants to Sanparks has created.

Yes, it is a pitty about one person mis-using his position in such a way!

But I must say, I have seen the opposite happen! I have seen really selfish visitors being totally rude to an HR because they did not like being corrected. The HR handled the situation really well, being firm but polite and made the situation better for all the other visitors.

They really deserve more respect! They are giving their time, and doing duty at their own expense, and are still willing to take flack from sometimes really rude people.

Sorry to hear about the rude Honorary Ranger. Normally they are very decent folk but the one or two bad eggs that slip through the selection net are REAL bad and give the Corps a bad name. I was an HR for 27 years and in that time only became aware of about 4 incidents where this arrogant behaviour came through. Gladly these warts normally slip away quietly never to be heard of again. Funny thing though since I resigned 5 years ago I never see HR's in the Kruger or Kalagadi anymore... I sometimes go for ages and there is not a sign of them anywhere which is bad for tourist support and law enforcement

Dear all

I cannot let this one go, HR's are always receiving flack for being on the lookout for transgressors. We go to a camp to perform a duty, and also take in nature as it is intended. Christmas weekend 2006 I spent at Berg en Dal, and our neighbour was shooting at the vervet monkeys with a Daisy type pellet gun. When this person was approached it became a nasty scene, obscenities were thrown around, threats were made etc, and all we trying to do was our job!
We are not always in the wrong, and not all HR's are the bossy and aggressive types, so spare a thought for the HR's that do their jobs, please. If a traffic officer stops a person for a violation, he becomes the target for all things nasty and ugly, and he is merely enforcing the laws that he did not make, by the way! I sometimes feel the same as an HR, the public are always right, the HR is always wrong, and that is it....
I still believe in what we do, and will uphold our social responsibility, and to stand on a couple of toes once in a while to do this, well, sorry for that, but if you were in the wrong, you deserve to have sore toes....
Best regards

Good action taken by the HR
But my first question is
Was this crazy unfit human reported to camp management and trown out of the park

Well said Bosvelder, I compelement you on your stand and attitude only wish the HR's had more authority.
The interesting question was the incident reported to camp management and if so what did they do?

Hi there

Yes it was reported, and I do believe the perpetrator was reprimanded, although this happened on the day I left, so I hope he followed us out to go and continue his holiday at his house with his firearms.
We all have gripes about the monkeys and baboons, but not everyone takes the law into their own hands and stalks around Rambo style to take pot shots at the hapless animals. My point is that we are in their area, we should be the considerate ones, lock up our stuff, hide the food etc, then it would not be necessary for Parks staff to take measures when the animals become a problem.

Regards in conservation, and yes, I do have friends who are hunters, I am also not a vegetarian!

Bosvelder