On The Hunt In Mount Moreland

It has been going on for far too longand all efforts seem futile, the frustration bordering on anger or evenoverflowing into a stream of anger seems only to exacerbate an already diresituation.

Poachersare "running amok" in the Mount Moreland conservancy area, armed mostly withpacks of fierce hunting dogs and more and more often these days with highvelocity hunting rifles, shotguns, handguns and a range of other weapons.

Tomake matters worse, this ballistic and one might add chaotic hunting is goingon in such close proximity to an international airport as to raise seriousconcerns. This recipe for disaster has been a boiling cauldron of impendingdoom for so long now that the residents of Mount Moreland are at their witsend.

Effortsto put a stop to the illegal poaching have been made by the community, thepolice services have been called several times but seem unable to curb thepacks of ferocious hunting dogs from chasing deer, bush pigs and large buckinto the homes in Mount Moreland and tearing them to pieces in some peoplesprivate yards. You can understand their concerns, but how to make it stop?

Theland is owned by ACSA, Airports Company South Africa who were approached forcomment on the situation, their response although appearing a littledisengaged, reads as follows. "Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has notedthe grievance received from the Mount Moreland residents regarding poachingtaking place 10km from airport.

KingShaka International Airport has had on-going engagement over the years with thesurrounding communities including Mount Moreland community to address and findsolutions on matters affecting the communities.

ACSAis committed to prioritize the safety and security of not only the passengers,airport users and airport community staff but within its means and resourcesmaintain the wellbeing of the surrounding community.

Asa National Key Point, it is our priority to protect critical infrastructurethat is within the airport boundary, vulnerable areas and the entire ACSAproperty.

Tothis end, security measures are implemented to mitigate the risks, whichinclude poaching, land invasion and illegal motorbike racing in an ACSAproperty. The airport continuously conducts frequent patrols and enforcescompliance.

Theairport have recently held an engagement with the Mount Moreland Rate PayersAssociation on this matter, and we'd like to assure the Mount Morelandcommunity that the matter does have the attention of the airport managementteam and we will continue to engage and work closely with the Mount MorelandRate Payers Association.

Weencourage the community to please bring such matters to our attention throughcontacting the Airport Call Centre on 032 436 6585 or emailing our CustomerCare on, Customercare@airports.co.za." commented ACSA Regional General Manager,Nkosinathi Myataza.

Afterreceiving this comment The Bugle was once again informed of a pack of somethirty hunting dogs that were again seen in the conservancy area and at leastthree ballistic incidents occurred, an offence in terms of Natal NatureConservation Ordinance No. 15 of 1974, sections 33 and 35. Three bush buck werekilled and no sign of police or security or response from any authority followedthese incidents.

TheSPCA consider the act of hunting with dogs as illegal in terms of the AnimalsProtection Act no 71 of 1962, as well as various Provincial Nature ConservationOrdinances.

SouthAfrican National and Provincial legislation restricts hunting with dogs,however KwaZulu-Natal is special. In 1999 an amendment to KZN NatureConservation Ordinance changed the ban, allowing "a person, on foot, who huntsan animal using a dog or a traditional weapon, but not by means of a firearm"(KwaZulu-Natal Conservation Management Amendment Act, Section 1. Traditionalhunts still require a permit, do not allow trespassing.

"Section10 of the KZN Act on the Licensing and Control of Dogs, No. 19 of 1988,provides that any dog found trespassing on any land or attacking or worryingsheep, cattle, horses, goats, pigs or poultry or hunting for or pursuing gameat any place, whether on a farm or elsewhere, where such dog is trespassing,may be destroyed forthwith by any authorised officer or by the owner oroccupier of such farm."

Thisproblem can only be solved by community involvement and efforts have to be madeto effect a solution before a disaster of international proportions occurs. Letus know your feelings, email me at tomas@thebugle.co.za