Orpen Gate wins KNP Entrance Gate of the Year Award
"We take care of the customers and make them happy. We give them the better service each and every day."
The people of Hoedspruit can be proud of how the regions of Kruger National Park close to the town were celebrated during the 19th annual Kruger National Park Achievement Awards ceremony that took place last Friday evening at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre, Skukuza.
Orpen Gate won Entrance Gate of the Year and the persons who took to the stage to receive the award were handed over a beautiful trophy of a Fish Eagle.
Amongst those who went to receive the award was Bamakatsie Locracious Thibela, an Administration Officer who works at Orpen who herself received an Outstanding Service in the Workplace award in the Marula Region category.
Bamakatsie, who lives in Cottondale village near Acornhoek, was honoured to receive her personal award and be a part of the team receiving the Entrance Gate of the Year Award.
She told the HOEDSPRUIT HERALD, “I believe I was awarded this for my commitment. My favourite part of my job is the animals, being able to see them every day.”
Another SANParks employee who took to the stage to receive the Entrance Gate of the Year award was a hut attendant from Orpen Rest Camp, Tinyiko Mkhonto.
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Tinyiko has been working proudly for SANParks for seven years and when asked why she believes Orpen Gate was the recipient of the award, she told the HERALD, “We take care of the customers and make them happy. We give them the better service each and every day.”
Ceremony attendees were welcomed by Glenn Phillips, Managing Executive of Kruger National Park.
Phillips recognised in his welcome speech that Kruger National Park is among the best National Parks in the world, and it couldn’t have got to where it is without the people:
“We are here to honour the employees who performed beyond their call of duty in their respective field of work during the immediate past financial year. The ceremony also brings together various stakeholders who continue to support the efforts of SANParks in its conservation mandate in one way or another; for the benefit of the National Parks system in this country.”
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Phillips asked all those in attendance to think about what the Park has achieved, especially as 2018 marks 120 years of conservation management of the area, from the Government Reserve, to the Sabi Game Reserve, to the Kruger National Park.
He also noted, “We are not an island,” identifying that the larger community surrounding the Park plays a huge role. With over two million people living on the Western boundary of the conservation area, Phillips noted that socio-economic development is a priority for the Park.
