CARMEL RICKARD: A victory for defending SA’s wildlife
Any court decision that stands up for conservation is a victory, especially at a time when natural resources are being so savagely eradicated
The environment and natural resources have so little effective protection in SA that I enjoy and celebrate any legal victory — like this week’s decision about distinctly dodgy hunting near Merweville in the Karoo. When Western Cape conservation board officials received an anonymous tip-off that kudus were being illegally hunted at night in the Merweville district, they started special patrols. And that is how it happened that two officers, Pietersen (no first name given) and Meyer Julies, were sitting in their vehicle on the night of December 11 2014, keeping watch at a crossing on a public road.They saw a spotlight in the distance across the veld. The light moved repeatedly back and forth, something Pietersen would later say was a technique commonly used during illegal night hunting. They watched for about 45 minutes, until the spotlight disappeared. The two men set off towards Merweville, but when the light did not reappear they decided to go back to the crossing. As they stood by...
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