TLU SA demands an explanation about the revised regulations published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday which prohibits interprovincial travel for hunting.
The department of environment, forestry and fisheries also put an end to accommodation for hunters with the regulations.
“It is utterly reckless and irrational to publish these types of regulations,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “This is another economic blow for game farmers who’ve had massive losses because of the regulations during the first week of the lockdown. Our members already accepted deposits and made arrangements for hunters from other provinces who would have hunted with them. The risk for the spread of COVID-19 in remote areas, where people have little contact with each other, is minimal.”
Game farmers had to forfeit the income from international hunters this year and depended on local hunters to have at least some form of revenue during the hunting season. Now they have minimal opportunity to earn an income and keep their farms running.
It will have an impact on employment as well. In April Wildlife Ranching South Africa reported that the limitations had negatively impacted 67% of all employers in the game industry.
In many rural areas, the local economy depends on hunters and game farmers spending money in the town or district. It keeps the local community alive.
“We urge the department and government to explain why these regulations were revised,” says Mr Meintjes. “Farmers are already fed up with the impact of the lockdown while government depends on them to continue with food production. The day will come when farmers cannot supply the demand anymore.”
TLU SA eis verduideliking oor gewysigde jagregulasies
TLU SA dring aan op ‘n verduideliking oor gewysigde regulasies wat Dinsdag in die Staatskoerant gepubliseer is en die reis oor provinsiale grense vir jagdoeleindes verbied. Die departement van omgewing, bosbou en visserye het met die wysigings ook ‘n stokkie gesteek voor akkommodasie vir jagters.
“Dit is uiters onverskillig en irrasioneel om sulke regulasies te publiseer,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Dit is ‘n nog ‘n ekonomiese slag vir wildsboere wat reeds groot verliese gely het as gevolg van die eerste weke van die inperking se regulasies. Ons lede het reeds deposito’s ontvang en voorbereidings getref vir jagters wat van ander provinsies by hulle sou gaan jag. Die risiko vir die verspreiding van COVID-19 op verafgeleë gebiede, waar min mense met mekaar in aanraking kom, is minimaal.”
Wildsboere moet vanjaar sonder die inkomste van internasionale jagters klaarkom en het staatgemaak op plaaslike jagters om gedurende die jagseisoen ‘n gedeelte van hulle inkomste op te maak. Daar is nou baie min geleentheid vir hierdie boere om ‘n inkomste te verdien om sodoende die wildsplase aan die gang te hou.
Dit sal ook ‘n invloed hê op werksgeleenthede. Volgens ‘n verslag van Wildbedryf Suid-Afrika (WRSA) in April, is 67% van werknemers in die wildbedryf negatief geraak deur die beperkings.
In baie landelike gebiede is die plattelandse ekonomie afhanklik van jagters en wildsboere se spandering. Dit is inderdaad wat die landelike omgewing aan die gang hou.
“Ons versoek die departement en regering om ‘n verduideliking te verskaf waarom hierdie regulasies skielik gewysig is,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “Boere is reeds baie ontevrede oor hoe die inperking hulle beïnvloed, terwyl die regering op hulle staatmaak om voort te gaan om voedsel te produseer. Die dag sal kom wanneer boere nie meer in hierdie vraag kan voldoen nie.”
