IN A BID to enhance the safety of its staff and to cut queues, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that at least 12 national parks, including two in the Northern Cape, will not be accepting cash as a means of payment from September.

The cash-free payment system will be implemented in a two-phased approach, with several parks implementing the system from the current 2021/22 financial year and the remaining parks implementing the system in the 2022/23 fiscal year.

“From September 1 cash will no longer be accepted as a method of payment in some of the parks. SANParks clients will be encouraged to make use of pre-booking payment systems and/or speed-point payment systems in parks. All trade and tourism activities will be cash-free and therefore cash will not be accepted,” said SANParks chief financial officer Dumisani Dlamini.

According to Dlamini, with the cash-free system, emphasis is placed on minimising the risk associated with the handling of cash by staff.

He said the move is also about improving customer convenience, as the cash-free payment system will reduce the contact time at entry points, particularly during peak times.

“This will cut down on queuing time and increase the time for visitors to enjoy the parks,” said Dlamini.

He said that out of a total of 20 national parks spread across seven provinces, 12 national parks will go cash-free from September 1, 2021.

These include the Garden Route (consisting of Knysna, Wilderness and Tsitsikamma), Agulhas, Richtersveld and Namaqua in the Northern Cape, Table Mountain, Tankwa Karoo, West Coast in the Western Cape, Mountain Zebra, Camdeboo, Addo Elephant in the Eastern Cape as well as Mapungubwe in Limpopo and Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State.

“This is a step towards environmental responsibility and promotes ease of use. Visit a cash-free park today and #LiveYourWild,” said Dlamini.

– ANA