Ramaphosa ‘not a trophy hunter’
President Cyril Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected claims that he profited from breeding and selling animals for trophy hunting from his Phala Phala wildlife breeding operation.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), a non-profit animal rights organisation, says a secret investigation revealed that Ramaphosa owns a stake in a hunting company called Tsala Hunting Safaris.
Peta claims that Ramaphosa and his employees have gone to great lengths to conceal his trophy hunting ties to this “colonial blood sport”.
No permits to hunt leopards are issued by environmental authorities in South Africa, but Tsala Hunting Safaris still organises leopard hunts in Namibia and Mozambique, Peta alleged.
Tsala also arranges hunts for 42 different species, including the Big Five, Peta said.
In a statement issued on behalf of the president and Phala Phala on Saturday, the Presidency said the accusations were “unfounded” and “patently false”.
It said further that: Neither the President nor Phala Phala have a stake in the trophy hunting industry or in Tsala Hunting Safaris.
Phala Phala’s wildlife breeding and management comply with best ethical and lawful practice in the sector.
Commenting on Phala Phala’s relationship with Tsala Hunting Safaris, the Presidency said: “Phala Phala undertakes annual culls of game such as impala, buffalo, kudu and wildebeest to avoid carrying excess numbers.
“Culling is an established wildlife management tool practised around the globe.
“Phala Phala entered into an agreement with Tsala Hunting Safaris to hunt the aforementioned game that would in any event have been culled.”
Due to claims that Tsala engages in the hunting of threatened or protected species on other properties, Phala Phala has given notice to Tsala Safaris to terminate their hunting arrangement, the Presidency said.