DEATH seemed certain when Kruger ranger Katekani Sibuyi grabbed a charging buffalo by the horns as it came straight at him.
The 38-year-old fought the beast with his bare hands in thick bushes at Pretoriuskop on 13 August 2024.
"One had to die," said Sibuyi, who received a bravery award for the terrifying encounter.
Sibuyi and Nicholas Mathebula (41) were on duty when the buffalo charged at them. Mathebula had fallen and the buffalo couldn't see him, so it came straight for Sibuyi.
The duo is among four employees who received bravery awards during the Kruger National Park Achievement Awards ceremony held at Skukuza on Friday evening, 7 November.
The 20th annual awards ceremony celebrated and honoured the park's most dedicated workers.
Recalling the terrifying encounter, Sibuyi told Daily Sun that they had been patrolling along a river and fence line when he spotted the buffalo.
"I alerted my colleague, but as he turned to run, he fell and remained on the ground," he said.
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"The buffalo started charging at us and came straight at me because it couldn't see my colleague, who was lying down. That's when I realised I had to act, before we both died. I faced it head-on and tried to fire, but my barrel was pointing towards my colleague. I then grabbed it by the horns and we started wrestling. It pushed me back, injuring my face."
Sibuyi said he tried to climb a tree, but the buffalo pulled him down and trampled on him, injuring his ribs.
"I thought I was losing the battle, then I heard a gunshot. For a moment, I thought I'd been shot, but my colleague assured me he had put the buffalo down," he recalled.
He added that when he heard Mathebula shouting that the buffalo was attacking him, he forced himself up to help.
"I saw him struggling with the buffalo. I fired my shot, and it went straight to the animal. I killed it because I was trying to save my colleague and my life," said Sibuyi.
Meanwhile, James Mdluli, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award, said he was proud to have served the park for 35 years. He encouraged his colleagues to continue working with determination and dedication to uphold the park's legacy.
Other employees were also awarded for their dedication. Best customer service of the year went to Wendy Mathebula, leadership award of the year went to Vincent Chauke while the bush camp of the year was awarded to Biyamati bush camp.
Kruger National Park executive manager Oscar Mthimkhulu said the awards were not mere tokens, but symbols of true commitment.
"Your hard work and efforts have not only strengthened the park but also inspired society worldwide with greater confidence. We are custodians of this heritage on behalf of society, and they have entrusted us to do this job because they believe we can. Without you, none of this would have been possible," he said.
