Cost of safeguarding Polokwane’s rhinos raises eyebrows

POLOKWANE – The fate of the rhinos owned by Polokwane Municipality that were relocated to a secret location near Bela-Bela towards the end of November 2018 is still undecided, although the local authority has spent close to R8m for the safeguarding of this endangered species on a private game farm for more than three years.

Initially, five animals were relocated, while four calves have joined the family after the relocation.

The current contract for the safeguarding has expired and the municipality has invited tenders for the keeping of the rhinos for another three years.

Although the bids closed on November 9, 2021, no decision about the matter has been taken as yet.

No visible attempts have been made to upgrade security at the local game reserve to allow for the animals to be returned to their home and be available for viewing by visitors, although it was stated by the municipality that the safekeeping was only a temporary arrangement.

A prominent game farmer in Limpopo, whose identity is protected, reckons the keeping of the rhinos is a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“The collective value of the dehorned animals is currently around R1.2m and to spend more than R8m on the safeguarding of the animals at a venue that is not even accessible to the city’s residents and visitors, is tantamount to fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

Spending money on this luxury, while residents don’t have basic services provided to them is totally out of kilter with the municipality’s core function,” he remarked.

Polokwane Municipality spokesperson Matshidiso Mothapo confirmed that the animals were moved to a sanctuary for security reasons since poaching increased in the years prior to the relocation.

“The reserve has in the past years suffered a protracted attack on and poaching of rhinos. As a result, council took a decision to relocate them temporarily while the process of upgrading security at the reserve is undertaken,” Mothapo explained and added that a proper supply chain process was followed.

According to Mothapo, the municipality is keeping the rhinos for a number of reasons.

“Polokwane Municipality owns a game reserve, which is a tourism attraction that offers a proper habitat for the rhinos. As other government entities, we also have a responsibility to conserve and protect endangered animal species for the benefit of the present and future generations. We all know that South Africa plays a critical role in the protection and conservation of the world’s remaining rhino population,” Mothapo explained.

Mothapo is confident that there is no waste of money.

“The municipality is not a private business with an intention of making money out of these animals, we are in the business of environmental conservation in this instance. The animals are not valued based on their financial worth, but on the role they play in the ecosystem and for their benefit of their conservation. Rhino conservation is an important issue as they also significantly affect the balance of the ecosystem and other animals in the game reserve,” Mothapo said, adding that rhinos are part of the Big 5 animals that are rare endangered animals on the verge of extinction.

“The current and future generations will be pleased to have them around and experience them in their natural habitat, and not only as documented or in pictures,” Mothapo highlighted.

Mothapo concluded, saying the finalisation of any bidding process rests on a validity period of 90 days.

“The municipality is embarking on a process of getting the right model of running the reserve at a more competent financial basis. This includes commercialisation model and private partnerships. The municipality has an open door policy and welcomes any developmental input in line with the spirit of Reaga Polokwane,” Mothapo assured.

It now remains to be seen whether the municipality is going to award a tender for the safekeeping of the rhinos for another three tears, without allowing visitors to view this species or to decide to dispose of this asset that has already cost the residents close to R8m over the last three years.