[:en]The South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) will summarily suspend any of its members who are involved in the smuggling of wildlife. Should they be found guilty, they would most likely be expelled. The Association is currently investigating whether any of the six South Africans arrested earlier this week for attempting to smuggle sable antelope out of Zambia, are among its nearly 40 000 members.
During the past month, there have been at least two known incidents of attempts to steal and smuggle game inside South Africa and across international borders to South Africa. SAHGCA’s CEO, Fred Camphor, confirmed that some of the culprits involved in one of these cases were indeed members of SAHGCA.
“We will not tolerate illegal or bad behaviour from any of our members that bring the Association or the entire hunting community into disrepute. The Association’s code of conduct makes provision for an internal disciplinary process that may result in immediate suspension, disciplinary action and expulsion of members that have taken part in illegal activities or have been found guilty of unacceptable behaviour.”
Camphor said the Association will do everything possible to support the authorities investigating incidents of game theft and smuggling. He also called on members and the hunting community to come forward with any information about similar illegal activities. “We must send a strong message that we will not tolerate conservation crime of any nature by anyone.”[:za]Die Suid-Afrikaanse Jagters- en Wildbewaringsvereniging (SAJWV) sal die lidmaatskap opskort van enige van sy lede wat by die onwettige handel of smokkelary van wild betrokke is. Sou hulle skuldig bevind word, sal die Vereniging summier hulle lidmaatskap beëindig. Die Vereniging is besig met ‘n ondersoek om uit te vind of enigeen van die ses Suid-Afrikaners wat vroeër hierdie week gearresteer is omdat hulle swartwitpense uit Zambië wou smokkel, onder sy sowat 40 000 lede tel.
Daar was minstens twee gevalle in die afgelope maand van pogings om wild onwettig binne Suid-Afrika of oor die landsgrense te vervoer. SAJWV se uitvoerende hoof, Fred Camphor, het bevestig dat die oortreders in minstens een van hierdie gevalle, wel lede van die Vereniging is.
“Ons duld geen onwettige optrede of swak gedrag van lede wat die Vereniging se beeld skaad en die hele jaggemeenskap se reputasie benadeel nie. Die Vereniging se gedragskode maak voorsiening vir ‘n interne dissiplinêre proses wat mag lei tot onmiddellike opskorting van lidmaatskap, strafmaatreëls of die terminering van lidmaatskap van lede wat skuldig bevind word aan onwettige optrede of onaanvaarbare gedrag.”
Camphor sê die Vereniging sal alles moontlik doen om die owerhede by te staan in hul ondersoek na wilddiefstal en smokkelary. Hy het ook ‘n beroep gedoen op lede en die hele jaggemeenskap om na vore te kom met enige inligting oor soortgelyke onwettige aktiwiteite. “Ons moet ‘n baie sterk boodskap uitstuur dat ons geensins enige bewaringsmisdaad deur enige individue sal duld nie.”[:]
