17 June 2007
Tosca: The MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment Mandlenkosi
Mayisela led an operation early this morning to confiscate the first ten of the
sixty five lions kept at the Woodborough farm near Tosca in the Bophirima
District, where nine year old Tshepo Gaerupe was mauled.
The confiscation followed the release of an internal investigation report
which indicated that the lion breeder Alfred van Vuuren, did not have a valid
permit at the time of the incident; and furthermore, that his keeping
facilities were not entirely up to the standard required in the ordinances. The
rest of Van Vuuren's lions will be removed tomorrow morning.
MEC Mayisela said although the internal report noted an element of
negligence on the part of the farmer by not ensuring that the entrance to the
keeping facility was kept locked, which contributed to young Tshepo's death,
the game farmer's act of not renewing his animal keeping permit on time is a
cause for great concern. "That in itself is a serious offence, and all farmers
know that very well. We cannot afford to be lenient on this," said
Mayisela.
The confiscated lions were taken to a place of safety and will only be
released after the completion of the legal processes initiated following the
incident.
Meanwhile, the department is continuing with inspections of all keeping
facilities across the province. "Where there are deviations with issued permits
the department will confiscate the animals until I am satisfied that all
keeping requirements are strictly adhered to. We are taking a tough stance as
we are determined to not have another life lost to captive predator animals due
to the predator breeders' lack of adherence to stipulated permitting
conditions," concluded Mayisela.
Contact Person:
Lesego Mncwango
Director of Communications
Tel: 018 389 5346
Cell: 078 459 5981
E-mail: lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Bonolo Mohlakoana
Tel: 018 389 5459
Fax: 018 384 4571
Cell: 083 504 3874
E-mail: bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, North
West Provincial Government
17 June 2007
