Illegal dog hunting worries farmers in Eloff and Welbekend areas

The police arrested three people for hunting without a permit in the Eloff area.

According to the station commander of the Sundra SAPS, Captain Linky Olckers, the Springs SPCA contacted the station on October 16 about alleged hunting with dogs on a well-known farming group in the area.

With the help of the SPCA, the Sundra SAPS and the Sundra Bulldogs neighbourhood watch members arrested the trio, who were charged with hunting without a permit.

The group was taken to the Mimosa informal settlement in Eloff, where they found various carcasses inside a dwelling.

One was that of an endangered species, a serval, commonly known as a tierboskat. According to Olckers, the Springs SPCA opened a case, which was transferred to the Middelburg Stock Theft Unit.

In another case involving several role players, including the Tshwane SPCA, they confiscated 20 dogs in the Yzervarkfontein in the Welbekend area.

“Six arrests were made, and the perpetrators were fined,” a member of the Welbekend CPF told Streeknews.

A farm owner who wanted to stay anonymous told Streeknews that landowners who complain or take action against illegal hunters suffer victimisation – their farms and grazing areas are sometimes set alight.

ALSO CHECK: Sewage builds up in property in eMzinoni

“We believe this evil practice serves a dual purpose – they take away your precious grazing and then have open fields to return to practice their illegal hunting.”

This farmer claims the dogs used during these hunts are neglected and starved, so they are not selective in what to hunt.

“Endangered species often fall prey during such expeditions.”

The farmer said landowners often find themselves at the short end of the straw with the illegal hunters.

“If you do not have evidence of a physical catch of an animal on your farm, you can, at the most, lay a charge of trespassing. It seems the law does not clearly define the term ‘illegal dog hunting’.

“It is clear many criminal remedies are available to land owners or farmers who come across illegal hunters or stray hunting dogs. Some legislation even extends powers of arrest to landowners and occupiers under certain circumstances.

“Farmers and land owners should be cautioned not to take the law into their own hands because the defence of their property could very well exceed the boundaries of self-defence or necessity, thereby making them criminally liable.”

The Sundra SAPS provided a legal opinion from Brigadier (Advocate) Bert van der Walt: Legal support head office.

ALSO CHECK: Help Holmdene High School matriculants achieve their dreams

In this document, Van der Walt recommends catching the dogs where possible and transporting them to the nearest SPCA to be dealt with according to the Animals Protection Act.

“Regarding actions by members of the SAPS, it is clear that all complaints must be attended to properly and offenders charged with the applicable crime or offence.

“It is recommended that farmers and land owners create a reporting mechanism through their community structures at the local level.”

Farmers in the Yzervarkfontein area thanked those who assisted in this weekend’s success.

“We shall do it again. We will not tolerate the illegal hunting of our wildlife.”