The EMS Foundation’s recent call on government departments to ban the slaughtering and consumption of game, as well as its export in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is opportunistic and irresponsible in a time during which the game and hunting industry can play an enormous role in alleviating hunger in vulnerable communities.
This request to the Departments of Health, of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries comes only a week after the same motion was put forward to the European Parliament by the European United Left/Nordic Green Left group. The motion, which was aimed a banning the trade and use of game meat, was denied by 449 votes to 186. “The result of the vote sends a clear message to animal rights groups, which are attempting to exploit all means to restrict hunting and other sustainable use activities in Europe in light of COVID-19,” the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) said in a media statement after the vote.
“We’ve been exporting meat to other countries for years without any incidents related to zoological diseases. To compare the game industry in South Africa with the markets and circumstances where COVID-19 broke out, is ludicrous,” says Francois Rossouw, Chief Executive Officer of Saai.
“There is very close contact between animals at the Chinese markets, while wild animals in South Africa roam free. We don’t eat exotic species in South Africa, our abattoirs are highly regulated and the inspection of meat complies with strict standards.”
The game industry makes a significant contribution to South Africa’s economy through job creation and tourism. Furthermore, the game industry utilises South Africa’s most marginalised land to generate foreign currency and produce some of the healthiest eco and climate friendly organic red meat. Biodiversity is also promoted through the preservation of species that would have been extinct, had it not been for this industry.
“Saai encourages government to prioritise hunting as an essential industry, due to the huge contribution it can make to alleviate hunger on ground level during this time. Helping Hand’s Helpjag project is an excellent example. Since 2018, 30 000 kg of game meat were donated to this initiative, which supplies balanced meals to 8 000 destitute children.”
Saai is currently working in cooperation with other organisations in the industry to bring about the responsible re-opening of the hunting industry.
Jagbedryf kan honger help verlig tydens COVID-19-tydperk
Die EMS-stigting se onlangse beroep op regeringsdepartemente om die slag en eet van wildvleis in Suid-Afrika en die uitvoer daarvan in die lig van die COVID-19-pandemie te verbied, is opportunisties en onverantwoordelik in ’n tyd waar die wild- en jagbedryf ’n reuserol kan speel om die honger in kwesbare gemeenskappe te verlig.
Dié versoek aan die Departemente van Gesondheid, van Landbou, Grondhervorming en Landelike Ontwikkeling en van Omgewingsake, Bosbou en Vissery kom slegs ’n week nadat dieselfde mosie deur die European United Left/Nordic Green Left group in die Europese Parlement ter tafel gelê is. Die mosie wat gemik het om die handel en verbruik van wildvleis te verban is verslaan met 449 stemme daarteen teenoor 186 daarvoor. “Die uitslag van die stemming stuur ’n duidelike boodskap aan diereregte-groepe, wat die COVID-19-pandemie misbruik deur alle middele te benut om jag- en ander aktiwiteite wat volhoubaar is in Europa te beperk” het die Europese Federasie vir Jag en Bewaring (FACE) in ’n mediaverklaring ná afloop van die stemming gesê.
“Ons voer al baie jare wildvleis na die buiteland uit sonder enige voorvalle wat verband hou met soölogiese siektes. Om die wildbedryf in Suid-Afrika te vergelyk met die markte en omstandighede waar COVID-19 uitgebreek het, is waansin,” sê Francois Rossouw, uitvoerende hoof van Saai.
“In die Chinese markte is daar nabye kontak tussen diere terwyl wild in Suid-Afrika vrylopend is. In Suid-Afrika eet ons nie eksotiese spesies nie, ons abattoirs is hoogs gereguleer en die inspeksie van vleis voldoen aan streng standaarde.”
Die wildbedryf maak ’n wesenlike bydrae tot Suid-Afrika se ekonomie deur middel van werkskepping en toerisme. Voorts benut die wildbedryf van Suid-Afrika se mees marginale grond om beide buitelandse valuta te verdien en van die mees gesonde, eko- en klimaatvriendelike organiese rooivleis te produseer. Biodiversiteit word ook bevorder deur spesies te bewaar wat daarsonder lankal sou uitsterf.
“Saai wil die regering aanmoedig om die jagbedryf as ’n noodsaaklike industrie te prioritiseer aangesien dit ’n reusebydrae kan maak om honger te help verlig in die tyd waar enige bydrae ’n groot verskil op grondvlak kan maak. Helpende Hand se Helpjag-projek is ’n uitstekende voorbeeld hiervan. Jagters het sedert 2018 ongeveer 30 000 kg vleis geskenk aan dié inisiatief, wat 8 000 behoeftige kleuters van gebalanseerde maaltye voorsien.”
Saai werk tans saam met ander organisasies in die bedryf om die verantwoordelike heropening van die jagbedryf te bewerkstellig.
