The practice of illegal hunting with dogs is spiralling out of control in Mzansi’s agricultural regions, particularly in the Free State, raising alarm among farming communities and organisations like TLU SA.
Despite legislation meant to hold offenders accountable, farmers say enforcement remains disturbingly weak.
Incidents are increasingly reported where individuals trespass on private farmland without permission, using dogs to hunt game and livestock. This activity leads not only to financial losses and property damage, but also fosters a climate of lawlessness in rural areas.
Fuelling farm crime
TLU SA general manager Bennie van Zyl has raised the alarm, warning that unlawful trespassing has the potential to escalate into serious, even organised crime.
Van Zyl noted that police guidelines already exist to deal with such incidents, including the seizure of dogs used in hunting, the arrest of offenders, and application of relevant laws such as the Fencing Act, Animal Protection Act, and Trespass Act. However, in practice, these measures are rarely enforced.
“The lack of action by the SAPS sends a message that crime in rural areas is being tolerated,” Van Zyl said.
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According to TLU SA’s safety committee, illegal hunting is often a front for other crimes such as stock theft, intimidation, and in some cases, violence. Farmers who try to stand up against the practice report facing threats and deliberate acts of arson.
In winter months, attempts to flush out warthogs from burrows frequently lead to veld fires, with devastating consequences for landowners.
TLU SA has called on the police to take its own guidelines seriously, train its members on relevant laws, and clamp down on offenders. The organisation argues that the failure to act not only damages rural livelihoods but also undermines the credibility of the country’s legal system.
The farming union is urging farmers to meticulously document each incident, gather evidence, and report cases through formal channels. TLU SA has vowed to continue pressuring the authorities to ensure that law and order are restored in South Africa’s rural heartlands.
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