SANParks and Stormsriver Adventures agree on future of popular Tsitsikamma activity

The South African National Parks (SANParks) and the Stormsriver Adventures Pty (Ltd)-operators of the canopy tours in the Tsitsikamma section of theGarden Route National Park met today (Friday, 26 April 2013) in order to find an amicable solution to the current legal impasse.  

The parties have agreed on a smooth transition period without putting any jobs on the line and disrupting the operations of the popular canopy tours in Tsitsikamma National Park.

Annemi van Jaarsveld, GM: Business Development at SANParks said the meeting between the two parties resolved to allow due process as per the National Treasury regulations governing Public Private Partnerships which dictates that at the end of the contract an opportunity should be put on an open and transparent tender.

Van Jaarsveld said that SANParks will ensure that no jobs will be lost and that the operations will continue to run uninterrupted until such time that the tender is concluded.  “This includes facilitating a seamless handover of the current workforce to the appointed service provider as per Section 197 of the Labour Relations Act in the event the current service provider is unsuccessful.”

Stormsriver Adventures Pty (LTD) CEO, Ashley Wentworth, expressed relief that both parties had agreed on a mutual and beneficial way forward where his entity will be granted the opportunity to take part in the process to appoint a preferred operator. “Our concerns have been addressed and we are happy to be part of a solution that will ensure that the much needed jobs are protected and that the operations will continue unabated.”

Both parties would like to assure all stakeholders, but most of all, the employees of SRA as well as the Tourism Industry that operations will continue as usual.