An article appeared in the Beeld on 26 March 2009 about a field guide and the organisation that employed him. Both were found guilty on charges of culpable homicide after the death of an America tourist in 2005.
Summary of the article:
According to the state prosecutor this is the first case of its kind in South Africa where both the field guide and the organisation was found guilty on charges of culpable homicide after the death of a tourist. They were also found guilty on breaching the Tourism Act.
The incident happened on 10 November 2005 at the Nungubane Lodge Nature Reserve. Three tourists accompanied the field guide on a nature walk; they came within 37m of an irritated elephant cow. When the elephant charged the field guide didn’t use his .375 Holland rifle to fire at the animal, instead he held it above his head and yelled. When the elephant started stamping its feet on the ground the field guide ran away without instructing the tourists to do the same which resulted in the death of one of the tourists.
The field guide was fined R10 000 or 6 years jail time, suspended for 5 years for the culpable homicide charge. He was fined a further R5 000 or 6 moths jail time, suspended for 5 years for breach of the Tourism Act.
The organization was fined R100 000 for the culpable homicide charge, suspended for 5 years. They were further fined R10 000, suspended for 5 years for employing an unregistered guide according to the Tourism Act. (Click here for the full article).
This incident proves the importance of being a qualified and registered tour guide.
Please follow these links to read more about:
The Tourism Second Amendment Act No 70 of 2000
Regulations in Respect of Tour Guides
Or go to our website for more information about our registered qualifications on Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.
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