Bibby's Hoek Community Action

19/03/2026

UPDATE: 19/03/2026

We’ve had constructive engagement with SANParks’ Legal Services team, and processes are now underway to address the situation at the Goudveld entrance property.

We appreciate the responsiveness and will continue to share updates as they are received.

This is a positive step forward, and we are hopeful that meaningful progress will follow.

12/03/2026

FINAL ESCALATION EMAIL SENT 04.03.2026.

Dear Ms Sello.

We acknowledge receipt of the correspondence dated 24 February 2026 from the Office of the CEO of South African National Parks confirming receipt of our formal escalation and indicating that the matter would be referred to colleagues for response.

As of today, no further communication has been received from the referenced colleagues or any other SANParks representative.

For clarity, our concerns remain as follows:

Repeated open fires within a high fire-risk area inside a national park.

Ongoing unlawful occupation of SANParks-owned property.

Destruction and stripping of infrastructure (including water pipes and utilities).

Public safety concerns at the Goudveld entrance.

The apparent unlawful subletting of SANParks property.

Ongoing illegal drug dealing from the property, with individuals regularly accessing the site via the public road from the Keurhoek community, resulting in sustained safety and security impacts.

The effects of this activity are not abstract. Residents report consistent nocturnal foot traffic to and from the property, public disturbances and incidents of violence at the property.

There has been a documented increase in petty crime associated with individuals seeking funds for narcotics, including recent theft of livestock from a neighbouring household. In a rural community where many families live hand-to-mouth, such losses are significant. Residents are often reluctant to open cases due to fear of retaliation. There is also a real concern about vulnerable youth being drawn toward the property and exposed to criminal activity.

This matter has been formally documented and reported for over a year.

Given the continued fire risk within a protected area and the absence of substantive engagement, we hereby request written confirmation of the following:

Confirmation of SANParks' position.
Clarification of what action, if any, is being taken.
An indicative timeline for intervention.

We request a formal written response by Friday, 6th March 2026, by 16h00.

Should no response be received by the above deadline, we will proceed with further escalation to the relevant oversight and environmental authorities.

We remain available to engage constructively and in good faith toward a lawful and practical resolution.

TO DATE NO WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THIS EMAIL HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

12/03/2026

For transparency, we are sharing the correspondence sent to SANParks regarding the situation at the Goudveld Park entrance.

Escalation letter sent to SANparks Management on 24 February 2026.

Covering Email (that accompanied the letter)

SUBJECT: FORMAL ESCALATION: GOUDVELD SANPARKS PROPERTY – IMMEDIATE EXECUTIVE ATTENTION REQUESTED

Dear SANParks Executive and Management

Please find attached a formal escalation regarding the SANParks-owned structure at the Goudveld entrance.

This matter has now progressed beyond prolonged nuisance into documented public safety and environmental risk, including repeated SAPS attendance, a recent assault incident linked to occupants of the SANParks-owned structure and observed open-fire activity within a high fire-risk conservation area.

Given the duration of the issue, prior written acknowledgment of unauthorised rental arrangements, and the confirmed referral to Legal Services, we believe the situation now warrants coordinated executive oversight to ensure:

Legal process transparency
Interim safety controls
Clear accountability

The community remains committed to a lawful and orderly resolution. However, the absence of visible progress and the escalation of risk make formal clarification necessary at this stage.
We respectfully request a written response within seven (7) working days, as outlined in the attached letter.

SANPARKS ESCALATION LETTER: 24th February 2026

To:
Victor Mokoena – Regional General Manager
Pheladi Chuene – Park Manager WNP
Property Mokoena – Managing Executive: Parks
Fahlaza Monaledi – GM Legal Services
Janine Turner – Legal
Cc: Hapiloe Sello – CEO SANParks
Siviwe Nondobo – Park Manager

Dear SANParks Executive and Management

I write to formally escalate the matter concerning the SANParks-owned structure situated
just inside the Goudveld entrance, Bibbyshoek area.
This issue has now been ongoing for over twelve months, during which repeated engagement attempts, site meetings, and incident notifications have been made to SANParks management.
For clarity, the following is recorded:

● SANParks has acknowledged in writing that the subsequent occupation arose through “unauthorized rental arrangements.”
● The matter has been confirmed as referred to SANParks Legal Services.
● Multiple incidents of theft, disorderly conduct, and police attendance have been reported over the past year.
● Hazardous waste (including discarded hypodermic needles) has been found in the surrounding firebreak.
● On Monday evening, a long-term resident was assaulted in an incident directly linked to the occupants of the structure. SAPS attended on multiple occasions. The victim elected not to pursue charges; however, police presence and injury are documented.
● SAPS has indicated that eviction falls within SANParks’ mandate as the property owner.

The situation has now moved beyond nuisance and reputational concern into clear and ongoing public safety risk affecting residents, SANParks staff, and visitors entering the reserve.
Given the above, we respectfully request written confirmation of the following within 7 working days:

1. Legal Status

○ Date the matter was formally referred to Legal Services.
○ Current legal status of eviction proceedings.
○ Whether court papers have been filed (and court reference number, if applicable).
○ Anticipated next procedural step and indicative timeframe.

2. Interim Risk Mitigation

Pending finalisation of legal proceedings, please confirm what immediate safety measures SANParks is implementing, including:
○ Increased patrol or visible presence at the entrance area.
○ Removal of hazardous waste.
○ Any steps taken to secure or monitor the structure.
○ A designated SANParks contact responsible for ongoing coordination with SAPS.

3. Accountability

○ Name and designation of the official currently accountable for managing this matter.

This escalation is not intended as adversarial. The community’s position remains that this must be resolved lawfully and constructively. However, given the duration of the issue and
the recent escalation to physical assault, clarity on SANParks’ formal action plan is now required.

We look forward to your written response.

ONE & ONLY RESPONSE TO DATE IS THE PIC ATTACHED.

12/03/2026

Timeline: Bibby’s Hoek SANParks Tik House Issue

We, as residents of Bibby’s Hoek, have been raising concerns about the illegal occupation of a SANParks property near the Goudveld park entrance for over a year.

Below is a timeline of actions taken by our community.

• Early 2025 – Residents begin raising concerns about suspected drug activity at a SANParks property near the Goudveld SANParks entrance.

• 2025–2026 – Multiple complaints and communications submitted to SANParks management regarding the illegal occupation of the property and its impact on community safety.

• February–March 2026 – Several community meetings held with Bibby’s Hoek residents to discuss the situation and possible solutions.

• Feb/March 2026 – Issue escalated formally to SANParks following ongoing safety concerns including drug activity, intimidation, fire risk and crime linked to the property.

• 12 March 2026 – Knysna-Plett Herald publishes article titled
“Bibby’s Hoek residents at breaking point.”

• March 2026 – Bibby’s Hoek Community Action page created to document developments and raise awareness.

Residents continue to seek a responsible and constructive resolution to this situation.

12/03/2026

Thank you to the Knysna-Plett Herald for reporting on the concerns raised by Bibby’s Hoek residents.

Read more in this week's Knysna-Plett Herald. It's free here. https://tinyurl.com/yhbh6vjf

12/03/2026

Bibby’s Hoek residents at breaking point.

The Knysna-Plett Herald has today reported on the ongoing situation at a SANParks property near the Goudveld forest entrance, where residents say an illegally occupied house has become a “tik house” linked to crime and intimidation in the area.

Residents have been raising concerns about this situation for over a year.

This page has been created to:

• document developments
• share verified information
• raise awareness of the impact on the community
• encourage responsible authorities to address the issue

We ask that discussion remains factual and respectful.

Read more in this week's Knysna-Plett Herald. It's free here. https://tinyurl.com/yhbh6vjf