South African National Parks (SANParks) has issued a reminder that the flying of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, in not permitted in any National Park – irrespective of what the purpose may be – after a day visitor was arrested.
SANParks, in conjunction with the Park’s Protection Services arrested a day visitor for illegally alighting from a vehicle and flying a drone in the Kruger National Park.
Speaking on the arrest, KNP’s General Manager, Communication and Marketing, William Mabasa said: “We would like to warn such people and other drone users that, should they be found flying them in the park at any time, they will be arrested on the spot and their equipment will be confiscated.”
This practice is prohibited in terms of NEMA Protected Areas Act, which states that “it is illegal to fly below 2 500 feet above the highest point of any national park, with any aircraft/drone, without the express permission of the Management Authority of the particular National Park.” Therefore there are legislated protected areas with restricted airspace, which make them no-fly zones for all unauthorised aircraft systems.
Not only is this a contravention of the NEMA Protected Areas Act, but there are also restrictions in terms of the aerial filming rights, and therefore an infringement of SANPark’s filming/photography policy.
“Flying such aircraft illegally in the park can negatively impact on the wellbeing of animals as well as the experience of other visitors, to such an extent that it can end up disturbing and stalking animals. We would like to thank the guests who reported the recent incident to the nearest Section Ranger,” says Mabasa.
Mabasa encourages all law abiding citizens to report such incidents to the Emergency Call Centre numbers: 013 735 4064, 013 735 0197, or 076 801 9679.
