Wildlife Ranching South Africa elects new president

Tebogo Mogashoa was elected as President of Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) during the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held at Protea Hotel Ranch Resort on Saturday.
Adri Kitshoff-Botha, Chief Executive Officer of WRSA said in a media release that Mogashoa was elected to represent the interest of wildlife ranchers in South Africa. “During the next few weeks Mogashoa, with the support of Wiaan van der Linde, the new Vice President of WRSA, will elect a new board of directors to assist them in guiding the organisation to be the leaders in the industry. WRSA represents the national and international interests of the wildlife industry in South Africa by providing ranchers with best practises and approaches while influencing regulations and policies,” Kitshoff-Botha added.
“It is a great honour for me to have the opportunity to lead this organisation in the capacity as President,” Mogashoa said in his inaugural address. “I remain confident and optimistic that our organisation has the capacity and the human resources to tackle challenges head-on. We will at all times be guided by the vision that we have articulated which is to achieve an inclusive wildlife industry while protecting our natural resources,” Mogashoa is quoted to have said.
Mogashoa stated that he will formulate, together with his new board, a strategic approach in consultation with the South African government and other stakeholders to ensure sustainability of the wildlife industry. He will also lobby with the government to support the legalisation of international trade of rhino horns at the next Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka. “WRSA supports the advocacy campaign of legal trade in rhino horn,” Mogashoa said.
Mogashoa encouraged members of WRSA and other delegates to be agents of change and participate, not only within WRSA but in the wider scale of South Africa’s economy. “WRSA and its members strive to be leaders that act as role models in the wildlife industry and is inspired by ethical behaviour which will in turn earn them the respect and trust of the people in South Africa,” Mogasahoa concluded.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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