Nolan Sparg, who owns a game farm near the Glen Mellville Dam, has lost two more of his kudu after they were caught in two of 166 snares he has found on his property over the past three years.
Nolan Sparg, who owns a game farm near the Glen Mellville Dam, has lost two more of his kudu after they were caught in two of 166 snares he has found on his property over the past three years.
The snares have resulted in the loss of 38 kudu and 34 impala to date. He blames the municipal workers employed at the James Kleynhans Purification plant at Glen Melville Dam close to his property on the basis that they live closest to his farm and that two of the workers were arrested earlier this year.
"I have been reporting these incidents for the past two years. There have been meetings, but nothing has happened so far," said Sparg. When Grocott's Mail visited Sparg’s property to see the snares, two kudus, one of which was a calf, were caught in snares and had been dead for two days.
Captain Ettiene Kitching of the Stock Theft Unit has confirmed that Sparg informed him about the incidents. However, only a fraction of these cases have been reported to the Fort Brown Police Station because the snares have either been removed or the animal has been found in a state of decomposition.
Kitching confirmed that two suspects were arrested earlier this year on suspicion of kudu snaring; the case was registered in April. Both were employees at the purification plant, where one was the manager.
"A case is currently pending in court against two municipal employees of the Glen Melville Dam and they are charged with stealing the kudu," said Kitching. He said that the suspects were tracked down via satellite as the vehicle they were using had a tracking device, but no meat was found on them. "They are out on bail,” he added.
Kitching said he has seen the snares, which vary in size and material. Sparg and Kitching both agree that the information gathered points to the municipal employees as well as those who stay with them as most snares have been found close to their area.
Monwabisi Dingana from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) condemns the incident: "Trapping an animal is against the law and contravenes the animal protection act," he said.
Attempts to get comment from Makana Municipality spokesperson Thandy Matebese drew a blank.
