Hunt causes outcry

Date: 14 September 2015 By: Andries van Zyl

The furore sparked by the controversial “driven hunt” currently taking place on Braam Farmnear Alldays has brought the Soutpansberg into both the national and international spotlight – and not in a good way.

Since last week, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and other animal welfare organisations have tried relentlessly to have the hunt stopped, arguing that this practice is inhumane and unethical. They were unsuccessful in their attempts, with the hunt beginning as planned on Monday. The hunt is scheduled to take place until 10 September.

A driven hunt is were a clearing is cut and game is then herded into the clearing by a line of people, also known as beaters, who chase and scare the game into the clearing. Alongside the clearing, wooden platforms are erected from where hunters then shoot the game as they come running past. This type of hunt is not uncommon, also in other countries, and in South Africa it is not illegal.

As for the hunt on Braam Farm, the hunt was scheduled for a select number of Belgian and Dutch hunters. Hunting will, however, also take place on the farms Montague, Janda and Ammondale. All these farms belong to the Tshivhulu Community Property Association.

The NSPCA and other animal welfare organisations’ fight to have the hunt stopped gained momentum after the controversy regarding the hunt was highlighted on Carte Blanche on Sunday evening. The programme sparked a massive public outcry against this type of animal slaughter.

The NSPCA’s attempts to have the hunt stopped were, however, not entirely fruitless. Ms Isabel Wentzel from the NSPCA did manage to bring a successful application for a warrant on Monday to monitor the entire hunt. The warrant was granted in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate's Court.

In her affidavit in applying for the warrant (granted in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962), Wentzel argued that, in her opinion, there was a high likelihood of animals' being injured with this type of hunting “as animals will be at full speed and thus moving targets, compared to the practice of stalking and shooting at a specific, non-moving target.” She added that her reason for suspicion of injury was increased, due to the thick bush area.

According to the warrant, the NSPCA is granted access to the farm(s) to monitor the hunt and may take with them experts and individuals, including members of the South African Police Service. They may also examine the animals and conditions in which they are kept. The NSPCA may also collect and take into custody any evidence required for the purpose of prosecution and may also take photographic or video footage as may be reasonably necessary. They may also seize any animal to prevent cruelty and suffering, including euthanizing wounded animals.

On Tuesday evening, the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation updated members on the progress of the hunt. They, along with Wentzel, visited the farm earlier that day. They reported that 18 animals were killed on Monday, with one being wounded and having to be euthanized. At the time of their update, three animals had been killed - two waterbuck and one impala.

In their update, the Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation stated that Wentzel had monitored Tuesday's hunt. She is quoted as having said that there was no massacre, that the hunt was strictly controlled and well organised. The update added that the NSPCA said that the kills were clean and no animal cruelty had taken place. “Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation maintains that, just because it is not illegal, it does not mean that it is ethical or morally justified,” the foundation stated.

This sentiment is also shared by numerous other people, among them regular hunters. TheZoutpansberger spoke to a couple of local hunters and members of hunting organisations. One of them was Mr Frederick Eloff. He said, among other things, that any hunter worth his salt would not take part in this type of hunt because of ethical reasons. Mr Robert Gallon, chairman of the Alldays Farmers Association, agreed with this statement, saying that they distanced themselves from this practice.

In the meantime, the hunt continues. The Zoutpansberger has heard, however, that a big protest action is being planned for Friday, 11 September, in front of the gates leading to the farms.

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Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

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