Wilderness: Best performing park in Garden Route

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park walked away with the best performing park of the year award at the park’s annual achievement awards at Villa Castollini in Brenton-on-Sea, Knysna, on Friday 31 October.

The event was held to honour staff excellence and recognise outstanding contributions across various categories.

The Storms River Mouth Rest Camp in the Tsitsikamma Section took home the best performing camp of the year award.

This year’s event was particularly special as it was attended by colleagues from across the park’s three main sections, namely Tsitsikamma, Knysna and Wilderness, and its stakeholders. The celebration brought together 150 staff members from all disciplines to honour their dedication, passion and exceptional contributions to conservation and service excellence.

“This increase in attendance reflects the continued growth of the Garden Route National Park team, as well as the rising enthusiasm among staff to celebrate excellence and unity across departments.

"It also speaks to the park’s strengthened culture of collaboration, recognition and pride in the vital role each employee plays in fulfilling SANParks’ conservation mandate,” said the regional communications manager, Phokela Lebea. He won the overall best performance award.

The winners were recognised across several categories, including excellent performance in the workplace, the best constituency builder, lifetime contribution, the overall best performer, the regional general manager’s award, the leadership development award, the leadership award, the best ranger post, the best performing camp of the year, the best performing park of the year, and the best performing division.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the regional general manager’s award to Cheryl Wiley, human capital management officer, in celebration of her 35 years of dedicated service in the human resources office.

“Wiley has been an integral part of the Garden Route team, and the award honours her remarkable contribution as she prepares to retire at the end of November,” said Lebea.

The regional GM, Victor Mokoena, Cheryl Wiley (HR officer) and Dr Stef Freitag-Ronaldson, general manager of SANParks’ scientific services.

Additionally, four long-serving employees were honoured with the lifetime contribution award in recognition of their remarkable dedication, loyalty and decades of service to the organisation.

All regional winners will now go on to compete with the other regions and represent the Garden Route National Park at the SANParks Kudu Awards, which will be hosted in Gauteng in November.

SANParks Scientific Services GM Dr Stef Freitag-Ronaldson, Overall Best Performance Award recipient Phokela Lebea (regional communications manager) and Regional GM Victor Mokoena.

SANParks thanked the Water Club for sponsoring the design and production of certificates and trophies, and Camping RetrEats for their donation of premium retreat vouchers valued at R72 000 to all the winners.

“We also express our appreciation to the broader Garden Route business community for their continued support in making the Garden Route Achievement Awards a resounding success,” said Lebea.

SANParks Chief Audit Executive Lutendo Makhadi, Wilson Notimele (winner of the lifetime achievement award) and Victor Mokoena, regional general manager.