That was the clear message from the majority of Hoedspruit residents, after the McLaren Circus announced that they will perform in town.
A social media frenzy broked out, and it seemed on Facebook that Hoedspruit as a whole stated it clearly that they do not want the circus in town.
The McLaren Circus eventually canceled their performances that was scheduled to take place on 1 and 2 September.
It was scheduled to be staged at the Total Garage grounds.
It is alleged that community members were against the circus as they did not want animals to be exploited for entertainment, and that they threatened to boycott the Total Garage should the circus take place.
Hoedspruit Herald contacted the Total Garage and Loly Dossantos, wife of the owner of the garage. She stated that no one threatened to boycott them.
“It is not that people threatened to boycott our business. The circus approached us to use our grounds. We got some reactions from members of the public because of animal cruelty, and we took a decision as we did not want any problems. No one threatened us. It was just phone calls against the circus in town because of the animals,” said Loly.
She also referred the Herald to her husband, Tony Dossantos, for further information. When the Herald contacted Tony he also denied the allegations. “That is all a lie. McLaren wanted to put up the circus tent at our grounds and then I said ‘no’. The next thing they advertised it. That was when I pulled out and said no,” he said.
“There is no story here. I do not know what you want to write about. Instead writing about how dirty the town is or whatever it is, you are focusing on the circus,” Tony told the Herald.
The information that was provided by the owners of the garage was contradicting with what the organiser of the circus said. David McLaren, the organiser, told the Herald that Tony gave them the authority to use the piece of land for free of charge and he cancelled after being threatened.
“When we started to advertise the circus, someone called the owner of the garage and threatened him that they will protest should the piece of land be made available for us. You will never know if the community is going to support us until we are in Hoedspruit and what the outcome would be. Those people who are against us, are against us. There are people all over the country who are against the use of animals for entertainment. How could they say the entire community did not want to see the circus in Hoedspruit whilst we were receiving bookings from Hoedspruit? It is just a group of people who threatened the owner and therefore he was too scared to allow the circus to come,” said McLaren.
“We were playing in Tzaneen and we were sold out. There was also someone in Tzaneen who threatened that no one would attend the circus but we were sold out. If we stood in Hoedspruit and the community did not come, then we would understand that they did not want it,” he continued.
According to McLaren it was a handfull of people who bullied the owner into the cancellation. “We are acting within the law and we are not doing anything wrong with our animals. We also have the SPCA in Phalaborwa to come and inspect our animals. It is about entertaining the whole community. Unfortunately I cannot force the land owner, especially after he was threatened,” said McLaren.
“If only I can get an open piece of land, I will come to Hoedspruit. I am not scared of the threats. I take good care of my animals and I have my licenses, I am not doing anything wrong or illegal. Just because someone does not like something, it does not mean everybody does not like it,” he said.
McLaren mentioned that it was unfair for other community members who wanted the circus to come to Hoedspruit and they apologised for that. He also stated that the cancellation cost him a lot of financial stress. McLaren also provided a letter to the Herald which he had received from the Total garage confirming the cancellation of the circus in Hoedspruit.
The letter read: ‘We regret to inform you that due to the wildlife conservation organisations in our town, we can unfortunately not grant permission for you to use the property that you enquired about. We have received numerous calls, complaints and other verbal confirmations of protests that will take place on the property if the place/property is made available to you’.
“We sit with the embarrassment of not coming to Hoedspruit because of a group of people who threatened to attack the owner of the garage. My apology to everybody who was excited about the circus,” he concluded.
