LYDENBURG – Subcontractors of Eskom allegedly poached a grey rhebok at Paardeplaats Nature Reserve on Saturday morning.
According to Mr Brian Whitehorn of Paardeplaats, the three contract workers and Mr André Bestbier, a guest at the reserve, were the only ones on the farm on Saturday morning when the incident occurred.
“There are only two ways to gain entrance to the farm and the contractors were working on installing lightning conductors on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Bestbier, the only guest of the past weekend, went for a stroll with the dogs on Saturday morning and I was out repairing the tractor. Upon his return he came across the buck that had been shot in the head. It was paralysed but still alive. He told me what he had seen and I sent one of the workers to slaughter the rhebok.”
The grey rhebok is a species of antelope endemic to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Swaziland. The specific name capreolus is Latin for “little goat”.
A very upset Whitehorn told the newspaper that Paardeplaats was a nature reserve in accordance with a 1958 proclamation. “This prevents the means of prospecting and mining and to protect the area. It is our responsibility to uphold this proclamation.”
The reserve had several other antelope species, including a breeding pair of Oribi. These small antelopes were found in several protected areas and were the subject of a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) species project.
“What I want to know is, what are these contractors doing with firearms?” Whitehorn asked.
Bestbier confirmed that he came across the poached buck. “The rhebok suffered tremendously. It was shot in the head and paralysed on the left side of its body.
I saw a bakkie in the veld and thought that it was a bit strange. I also saw three persons digging holes. I went for a walk to admire the scenery, but came across that scene. It was not nice to witness.”
Whitehorn said the poached rhebok was an ewe. Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) was summoned to the scene. Mr Themba Msimba of the MTPA, told the newspaper that this was not the first time these contractors had poached in the area.
“They have done it on several other occasions. We are investigating the matter and see this as a serious offence.”
The newspaper phoned Mr Johan Botha, who was said to be in charge of the contractors. He, however, said he could not comment on the matter and referred the newspaper to Eskom’s media desk. The newspaper sent through several queries, including whether it was standard practice for contract workers to carry firearms with them when working on projects.
However, no response was received from Eskom, although a read receipt for the email enquiry was received.
