On a7 December 2022, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Ms Barbara Dallas Creecy (the Minister), established a Task Team to identify voluntary exit options and pathways for the captive lion industry (the Ministerial Task Team).
To date, the Ministerial Task Team has developed a detailed work plan and stakeholder engagement plan up to June 2023. The Ministerial Task Team resumed stakeholder engagement as of 17 March 2023 starting with industry stakeholders. In addition, a range of stakeholder engagements with focus groups, and convening of roundtable discussions, workshops with role players, and public participation are ongoing. The Ministerial Task Team was expected to conclude its work by the end of June 2023.
The Minister intends to extend the time period for the call for registration of participants who would consider voluntary exit from the captive lion industry, as published in Government Notice No. 3284, Government Gazette No. 48423 of 14 April 2023, for a further 60 days from the date of publication of a Notice in the Government Gazette.
The intended extension is to afford the Ministerial Task Team time to reach out to issuing authorities in each province and to target permit holders, place adverts in the regional newspapers and magazines and hold interviews on radio stations and television.
The extension Notice is being processed internally for publication in the Government Gazette by the end of this week. Copies of the extension Notice, once published in the Government Gazette, can be accessed from the following website: www.environment.gov.za/legislation/gazetted_notices or www/gpwonline.gov.za
Any inquiries in connection with this statement can be directed to:
Dr. Tsepang Makholela Cell:
Cell: 071 608 4556
Tel: (012) 399 9150
For media queries contact:
Peter Mbelengwa
Cell: 082 611 8197
Tel: (012) 399 8842
Call Centre: 086 111 2468
Email: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za
