With the announcement that McLaren Circus will make its way to Hurlyvale, community members have expressed their concerns and objections on social media.
COMMENT – Also read: McLaren addresses community’s concerns
Set to be in town between November 4 and 10, the circus will set up at the Hurlyvale Park in the Hurlyvale East and Buurendal Residents Association (HEBRA) road enclosure.
Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart, said she received the initial application at the end of July after which a meeting was held with the circus on September 5 to verify credentials and obtain additional details.
Hart said when an application to hire an Ekurhuleni park is made there is usually no public participation needed.
ALSO READ: Edenvale SPCA and BAT add their voices to concerns
“The councillor of the affected ward is, however, asked for comment. I supported the application because I felt that there were many residents in Edenvale who would love the chance to see it [the circus]. Anyone has the right to lodge objections or petition against the circus coming to Edenvale for whatever reason,” said Hart.
“The circus does have the right to perform in terms of legislation and thus to petition against the circus is misplaced.”
Hart said the petition should rather be focused on government changing the legislation regarding circuses.
“As much as I may want to side with the community, I have to remain objective as there is no evidence of cruelty or ill-treatment of the McLaren Circus animals.”
“Other residents also have the right to visit it [the circus] without feeling that they will be pariahs in their community.”
Hart said she did not foresee objections from the residents surrounding the venue.
“I mistakenly believed a two-week disruption would be tolerated considering normal choice would be Horwood’s Farm.”
The HEBRA committee said it does not support circuses, especially those which use animals as entertainment.
“As the committee, we respect due process, however, we don’t believe it has been followed at all. There was no due process followed, no public comment was allowed or requested, and the area chosen is not suited to an event like this,” the committee’s statement to the NEWS reads.
As a result of the objections from the HEBRA community, a petition was started by the community and posted on HEBRA’s Facebook Page.
Also read: Denmark to retire its last four circus elephants
“Since it was posted, several community members have started separate petitions to try to prevent the circus from occurring.”
The committee believes the negative effects of the circus coming to Edenvale outweighs any positive effects which might be a result of the circus coming to the area.
Negative effects highlighted by the committee include the destruction of the conservation area, security and safety of the residential areas.
According to the committee, the circus was granted permission in an area of the park which is a conservation area
“Besides the negative effects on the conservation area the ground allocated is 100m away from residents’ front gates and properties,” HEBRA stated.
“It is located in an area where no infrastructure such as running water, electricity or sewage is available.”
The area is directly outside residents’ properties. These are residents who pay for the upkeep and security of the area. The HEBRA committee believes the area does not have any facilities to host the circus.
“There are no electricity, water or sewage facilities available, not to mention no parking space or security facilities at all.”
Also read: New elephants at Joburg Zoo
The committee expressed concerns that waste would be leaked into the conservation area.
Although the committee is not aware of any animal cruelty cases against the circus it believes that no animals should be used in circuses. It said it will not play any role while the circus is in town.
Like HEBRA, I supported the application because I felt that there were many residents in Edenvale who would love the chance to see it Christine Kuch a resident said she did not support the circus coming to town.
She shared Edenvale SPCA’s disappointment that the circus was allowed to come to Edenvale.
Kuch said she was outraged by the comments of Hart.
“Her statements on the matter lacked empathy and demonstrated a failure to have researched why circuses with wild animals are opposed in the 21st century,” said Kuch
“They are completely at odds with approaches of the DA in other areas.”
