AA to Withdraw Services from Kruger Park in Funding Dispute. (10 September, 1996)

The Automobile Association (AA) is to withdraw its operations from the Kruger National Park in a clash with the National Parks Board over funding. The national motoring association, which has provided emergency rescue services in South Africa's premier game reserve since the early 1930s, said yesterday 'it could no longer continue to subsidise the service to non-AA members in the Park'.

'The National Parks Board has been requested on a number of occasions to contribute towards the costs of the operation, but declined to do so,' said Barney Mostert, AA's managing director. The AA will withdraw from the Kruger National Park at the end of October.

But the National Parks Board has promised motorists will not be left stranded. Fanyana Shiburi, acting director of marketing and communication of the Board, the Reserve's controlling authority, said thePark's own rescue operations would take over from the AA. He denied the board had never contributed and said it had 'over the past few years' provided R200 000 a year to the AA.

(But) when they asked for a triple increase - to the tune of R600 000 - it was impossible to consider. 'One can almost consider it in the same light as the Sandton rates and tariff increases,' he said. Mr Shiburi said an emergency rescue service for stranded motorists - using Kruger Park personnel and vehicles - wuld be operational from November 1.

'We will have rescue vehicles based at Berg-en-Dal, Skukuza, Satara and Olifants camps initially and if demand necessitates more vehicles will be allocated to rescue stranded motorists.' Staff Reporter, Sapa. Courtesy of the Pretoria News.