ALMOST DEAD AT RIVER RUN RESORT

Following the drowning of the pupil at Parktown Boys High school i feel that it is my duty to report River Run Resort. We went camping in December 2019. The camp grounds are very neat and tidy, pool and entertainment area very well maintained. There is only one small in-house shop to purchase tin foods, ice, cold drinks, and immediate camping essentials. The shop is so expensive. An ice lolly that costs R5 in a normal store costs R30 inside this shop,

On our second last day we decided to do the river rafting experience on the Vaal. i can only thank GOD that i am still here today to write this. The life jackets that were given to us were filthy and broken and not in reasonable working condition. because of the state of the Jackets, a few of my friends declined to put on their bodies as it actually served no purpose. We were 8 people and 3 boats split 3:1 , 2:1 and 3:1. One of the workers who helped get us into the boat said that we should stick to the left side of the river and we would see a flag further up at the end of our route, where he would meet us. A mere 5-6 minutes onto the boat and in the river, the weather changed from 30+degrees sunshine to a mini tornado.

The hail hit us so hard that the guys backs and heads starting bleeding, the river current was so strong that our boats kept getting sweapt to the right of the river and we knew we had to keep left. Some of the men eventually had to jump out of the boats where the river literally took them up to their necks, and pull us to the side of the river where we were able to see some kind of low laying land. at this stage the water had become so rough and wild and the hail completely out of control. we had lost one of the boats and its passengers who got trapped between an island thing and mud and some of the men had to go back into the water to find them. it is only by the grace of GOD that all 8 of us survived this aweful experience and came out of it with bruised bodies and faces. the worker who was supposed to meet us at the end of the route was not to be seen again till the next day when he needed to find out where his boats were (we left them wherever we could find land).

We were furious and wanted to report this matter and asked why he didn't stop us from going out onto the river when they know what the weather conditions are like in that area. His exact words were that " DIE BAAS WIL DIE GELD HE). He (the worker had told the baas" not to send us on to the river until the storm had passed since he knew there was a massive storm approaching, but "the baas" wanted our money and said to send us, regardless. I will NEVER, EVER, EVER recommend this place to anyone. If ones life is a mere matter of a few extra rands in the pocket, i can go elsewhere to spend my money and time.