Illegal hunters could not be arrested
VORNA VALLEY – Four men who had 16 dogs were caught apparently hunting in The Vlei.
Marianne Nel, chairperson of the Vorna Valley Residents Association said she was left dumbfounded when Midrand police informed her that they could not arrest four men who were caught hunting with 16 dogs in the suburb’s The Vlei, a wetland in the area.
Nel said they initially called Ria Sebetsa Security Company about the men who were apparently hunting illegally. “They were quick to respond and caught the guys. The Midrand SPCA was also quick to respond and took the dogs away. Two of the dogs got away,” said Nel.
She said police officers informed her that they could not charge the men for hunting in the vlei, as the owner of the vlei has to lay a charge and the association is not the owner.
Ria Sebetsa’s CEO, Danny Maduray confirmed that they were called to the scene by the association. “We received messages from the community via WhatsApp and we also received calls from our clients saying there are four suspicious guys running up and down in The Vlei area on Le Roux Drive.
“The team went into the area and caught the suspects who had 16 hunting dogs. These guys confessed that they were looking for rabbits and cane rats. We found one rock rabbit killed in their bags,” said Maduray.
Nel said there was a bylaw that stated that hunting was illegal. “They were in the vlei illegally as well, yet the police could not arrest them,” she said.
“I later spoke to some [other community members] and was informed that Metro police needed to come out to arrest them as they have to enforce our bylaws. Why then did the police not call for Metro police to come out? I will be taking this up with the police, Metro police as well at the relevant MEC.”
Wayne Minnaar spokesperson of the Metro Police said, “The hunting of wild animals in Johannesburg is illegal. The Metro Police would have been the correct law enforcement agency to call in this regard,” said Minnaar.
Theo Mokhatle and Jerry Seemise, inspectors at the SPCA said the police took the four men to open charges of illegal hunting but later released them. Therefore, the dogs could not be left unattended and the SPCA took them. “It is the mandate of the SPCA to protect the animals. No one has come forward yet to claim them. If no one does so within seven days, they will be put up for adoption,” he said.
The Protection of Wild Animals and Birds bylaw can be found on the City of Johannesburg website.
It states the following:
Prohibition against hunting wild animals and birds: No person may, without lawful cause or without the permission in writing of the
Council and subject to such conditions as the Council may impose –
(a) Hunt any wild animal or bird by any means whatsoever
(b) Remove, disturb or destroy any nests of birds, their eggs or their young.
The communications office for Midrand Police Station is away on leave and, therefore, could not respond to questions sent to him.
Read more:
Impala rescued after being chased by an illegal hunter and 18 dogs
Illegal hunters spotted on Lever Road
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