The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has denied allegations circulating on social media that officials at Sossusvlei extorted self-drive tourists.

It says such claims are unverified.

According to the Ministry, the anonymous post contained no names, dates, vehicle registration numbers, or other details that would allow for an investigation.
MEFT also said attempts to contact the complainant were unsuccessful.

The statement comes after a social media user claimed that they and several other tourists were victims of a coordinated scam ambush, involving corrupt police and park officials on the Deadvlei 4×4 route.

The tourists alleged that a vehicle was deliberately parked in the middle of the track, forcing drivers to detour around it, after which they were accused of illegal off-road driving and fined.

The individual further alleged that they were detained, verbally abused, and forced to pay a fine of N$1,200 cash before they were released.

However, the Ministry says conservation laws in Sossusvlei and Deadvlei are strictly enforced.

It revealed that between 01 and 27 June 2026, about 17 offenders were fined N$33,840 for various park violations, including off-road driving and failing to obey lawful instructions.

The Ministry warned that some individuals who are unlawfully penalised may spread false information in retaliation against enforcement actions and urged the public not to share unverified claims that could damage the country's reputation as a tourism destination.

MEFT also reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and encouraged anyone who experiences genuine misconduct by officials to report it through official channels and provide supporting evidence to facilitate an investigation.