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04 December 2007

Media Release: Watch Out for Fundraising Fraudsters!!

South African National Parks (SANParks) would like to call the public’s attention to a fraudulent fundraising scam currently circulating in shopping centres and other public places in the Johannesburg area.

There have been reported incidents regarding members of the public, perhaps even dressed in khaki clothing, soliciting donations on behalf of SANParks. The incident reported to SANParks says that the fundraisers are “raising money for a major game translocation in the Kruger National Park to prevent them from being poisoned”. There is no such project currently underway.

SANParks would like to request the public not to donate any funds to anybody purporting to be representing the organisation. Unauthorised solicitation of this nature is illegal and regarded as a criminal offence according to South African law.

“These solicitors do not represent SANParks and its associated organisations, and we denounce any links to these activities. Any one found soliciting funds from the public in this manner must be reported to the authorities,” says SANParks Chief Executive Dr David Mabunda.

Please report such activities to the toll-free national security fraud hotline (0800 60 10 11).

Enquiries:

wanda mkutshulwa
Head: Communications
South African National Parks
Tel: (012) 426-5201
Cell: 082-908-2692