4x4 Fraternity Must Unite NOW

Written by Jannie Herbst, Managing Editor Leisure Wheels

Thursday, 25 August 2005

The following article was published  on www.phalaborwa.co.za on 25 August 2005... The various players in the 4x4 fraternity must unite NOW South Africans have an international reputation and it is well deserved ­for boorish behaviour. In the context of the problems currently staring the 4x4 fraternity in the face, it was with some dismay that Leisure Wheels came across more examples of South Africans behaving badly. We recently went on a jaunt to the remote Kubu Island in Botswana (story in our previous issue) and were mortified to see evidence of 4x4 misuse on the desolate pan and surrounding areas. The final body blow came when we left for home and were paying our camp fees. We were asked to sign the visitors¹ book and two messages, one from a French tourist and the other from a German visitor, contained more or less the same message. They were not impressed with groups of South Africans who spoilt the beauty and tranquillity of the African bush with irresponsible behaviour in their vehicles, and by rowdiness in the campsite in the evenings. After all the flak the 4x4 community has endured in recent years, the last thing we needed was a reminder that our house is not yet in order. Which brings us to another regrettable South African personality trait and the point of this little discourse. We also have a talent for shooting ourselves in the foot with alarming frequency and remarkable accuracy, and the 4x4 industry is currently staring down the barrels of several guns aimed by the South African government and conservationists, and by their counterparts in neighbouring territories. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, has already issued an ultimatum that unless the off-road community comes up with acceptable ways and means of regulating itself, the government will take unilateral steps. The ultimatum has had a positive spin-off via the National Off-Road Workshop (NOW) scheduled to take place in October. Under convener Jan Joubert the NOW administrative and organisational levels have reached an advanced stage. NOW has a clear mandate from everyone connected with the off-road industry to set up an organisation that can speak to Minister van Schalkwyk with one voice, and put an end to the fragmentation that has plagued the 4x4 community in the past. Leisure Wheels will fully support any organisation that can promote and regulate responsible use and enjoyment of the natural beauty to be found in South Africa and our neighbouring territories. It is about now, however, that we start remembering the South African propensity for foot shooting. The messages in the visitors¹ book at Kubu were chilling reminders that we still have people out there supplying ammunition to the very people who have off-roaders lined up in their sights. Already we have in our possession a newsletter from an off-road organisation that, if NOW does not come up with all the answers, is prepared to go it alone and speak directly to the minister. A little toe is missing! The one thing the off-road community cannot afford to do is again tread on tender government toes. But we are also aware the 4x4 industry is made up of a wide diversity of players and this is a problem in itself. Leisure Wheels fervently hopes, however, that NOW can unite the various players into one organisation ­ one voice that is desperately needed for negotiations with Minister van Schalkwyk and his department. Dissenting voices and ultimate failure would be a disaster.