Game farmers who are not complying with conservation regulations should brace themselves for the full might of the law, as Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) of the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development are in an uncompromising mood.
This was evident recently when these inspectors and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) confiscated three cheetahs from one the predator farms in Bray in the Molopo Local Municipality and moved them to a safer camp, after its owner failed to comply with the North West Wildlife Fencing specifications.
According to Mr Tshepo Moremi - Chief Director for Environmental Services in the Department, the move was subsequent to directives from the department informing the predator farmer that his farm was not in compliant with the set fencing specifications as outlined in the Wildlife Fencing Policy of the North West province Vol. 25 – No 6492 of 20 May 2008 and that the farmer must ensure compliance or face lawful actions.
“The farmer continuously ignored such directives which prompted the department to seek recourse from the court of law and a warrant of search and seizure was subsequently granted by the Vryburg Magistrate Court”, Moremi explains.
The farmer is now facing three charges of contravening the National Environment Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), which is about carrying out a restricted activity involving a listed threatened or protected species.
A person convicted of such offence is liable to a fine not exceeding R10 million, or an imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years, or to both.
“It was crucial that the animals were seized and taken to a safer camp where they will be kept until the case is concluded to avoid potentially fatal incidents which might eventually compromise the department”, Moremi reiterated.
The MEC for Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development Mr Boitumelo Tshwene says his department is now fully enforcing the new predator fencing specifications and predator farmers who do not comply would face prosecution.
“We are ready to pull out all stops to ensure optimum compliance with conservation regulations, and those who choose not to play by the rule, will get what is due to them”, stressed MEC Tshwene.
Meanwhile on a separate incident, the EMIs have moved leopards and lions from a private farm in Stella near Vryburg to a camp that meets fencing specifications’ requirements.
The department is gradually winning the battle against poaching and has recently won a case against three people in Brits who were found in illegal possession of giraffe skins. The accused were fined R6 000 and a further five year suspended sentence after they could not proof that they obtained the skins legally.
