WATCH | Clash over poaching outside Howick court

Tensions flared outside Howick Magistrate’s Court as members of the Amaphisi Hunting Association and Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Lions River honorary officers exchanged views over broader hunting practices on Wednesday morning. This was after four men, Simphiwe Ngcobo (24), Mnelisi Mthembu (34), Mthetheleli Hlengwa (21) and Cyril Duma (46) appeared briefly in court, all facing charges of trespassing. The matter was postponed to March 20 for statements.

According to Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Lions River honorary officers, the four were caught on a farm in the Lions River area, allegedly in possession of 16 hunting dogs. They were found with no animal carcasses however, honorary officers chairperson Ant Stratford said the case forms part of a broader poaching crisis in the region, with protected species such as reedbuck and oribi frequently targeted. Outside court, what started with the hunters forcing themselves into a picture that was taken by the honorary officers later became an engagement between the two.

Hunters argued that landowners are allowed to hunt on their own land with permits, while they are arrested when found hunting on private farms, even though they have permits. “We buy our dogs from the very same landowners when they hunt deers and it’s allowed, but when we are found with a deer, it’s a crime,” one member said. We don’t have land, so where are we supposed to hunt?

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Hunting is our culture and provides meat for us. We are never going to stop hunting. Stratford also informed the hunters that even landowners need to have permits for hunting; if not, they are also prosecuted.

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