Africa Wild

Be careful with what you promise

WILDLIFE PROTECTIONS

Regulations tabled to block new lion breeders and protect wide range of wild creatures


More than 10,000 lions languish in appalling conditions, trade in their bones has not been halted, breeding rhinos to limited bulls in captivity is leading to genetic bottlenecks and the status of more than 100 wild animals effectively reclassified as farm animals under DALRRD remains unclear. (Photo: EMS Foundation) Lions in Boskoppie Lion & Toger reserve. (Photo: EMS Foundation)

By Don Pinnock | 20 Oct 2023

The Environment Department has called for public comment on its intention to block future lion breeders and prevent the exploitation of a long list of animals, birds, insects, fish and plants.
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Environment Minister Barbara Creecy says her department intends to prohibit the establishment and registration of new lion captive breeding, commercial exhibition or rehabilitation facilities or sanctuaries. In a government notice she has called for public comment.

She has also published for comment draft regulations on the protection of a wide range of species and an explanation of restricted activities with respect to them. Thirty days have been given for comment before the regulations become law.

The moves are in line with increasing pressure from the minister to curb cruelty towards wild animals which began in 2018 with a Parliamentary Colloquium on Captive Lion Breeding which was seen to be harming South Africa’s conservation image.

A high-level panel followed in 2019 on the management, breeding, hunting and trade of lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. It recommended the end of captive lion breeding or using their parts for commercial purposes.


A cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in a game reserve 60km from Port Elizabeth on 21 June 2010. (Photo: EPA / Robert Ghement)


A blesbok in the veld. (Photo: Jean Michel / Flickr)

This led to a 2023 white paper on the sustainable use of biodiversity which defined the notions of well-being and sustainable use of wildlife. A specialist panel of experts was then formed to propose steps for the closure of captive breeding facilities and a notice was issued seeking information on voluntary closures. This was largely ignored, but the squeeze has now tightened with proposed prohibition on new breeding facilities.

The million-dollar question, of course, is what steps can be taken on the future of between 10,000 and 12,000 lions presently in captive breeding facilities as they are unfit to be released in the wild.

The Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) regulations, which were withdrawn following a court challenge, have been redrafted and reissued, covering the permitting of all forms of captive breeding, game farms, scientific use and wildlife translocation.


A bee approaches an indigeneous Pincushion Protea at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town on 24 October 2021. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Nic Bothma)

Big protection list

In terms of the National Biodiversity Act, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has also listed and specified the form of protection for 269 species. These are deemed critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or threatened. It has, for the first time, listed non-indigenous species which are listed as Appendix 1 by the UN wildlife trade organisation Cites.

The new list includes newly threatened species and deletes some that no longer meet the criteria for listing. It also seeks to curb hybridisation.



Mammals that classify for protection are only those which do not come from captive breeding facilities and include the well-knowns such as black and white rhinos, lions, elephants, cheetahs, sable antelope, leopards, pangolins, hyenas and aardvarks. African wild dogs and riverine rabbits are unconditionally protected.

Any movement of black or blue wildebeest, tsessebe, blesbok, bontebok or any subspecies of zebra to areas where hybridisation is possible will be forbidden.


Environment Minister Barbara Creecy at the ANC provincial leg of the 2019 Manifesto Review in OR Tambo Hall, Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on 8 October 2023. (Photo: Ziyanda Duba)


A pangolin at a wildlife rescue centre in Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam, on 22 June 2020 (Photo: Linh Pham / Getty Images)

The restrictions also seek to protect (largely from theft by exporters) baboon spiders, 17 species of stag beetle, the geometric and speckled tortoise, a number of snakes and geckos, five species of scorpion, 21 species of bird including several vultures and eagles, and a range of freshwater fish.

The longest list is plants, including many species of euphorbia, lily, protea, clivia and all species of cycad. They are restricted from removal from the wild and in many cases also their sale or propagation.

The department is awaiting comment on its draft policy issued on 19 September 2023 to end captive lion breeding, close down facilities and sterilise existing populations. The policy paper added that the government will not promote the sale of rhino horn or ivory through the international wildlife trade organisation Cites until certain conditions are “fully addressed”.

How the industry which relies on the breeding and sale of these species views these moves will be the topic of an article to follow. Proponents of animal welfare will be concerned about how the sustainable use of these species will be enhanced without killing them. The discussion will undoubtedly raise considerable dust. DM

BIODIVERSITY BILL – A HIGH-WATER MARK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND MINISTER BARBARA CREECY

Don Pinnock - Daily Maverick - 23.05.2024

If Barbara Creecy loses her position as the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment after the elections, commercial wildlife breeders will cheer. But many conservation organisations will deeply regret her departure. She has done far more for wild creatures than ever imagined possible when she took office in 2019. The Biodiversity Bill and White Paper on Biodiversity will be her legacy. If they become law, they will change the face of conservation in South Africa.

Clik on the title to read the whole article.

Dion George wants to review Environmental Impact Assessment red tape but keep conservation safeguards


Illustrative image: Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh (left), and Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisherie Dion George. (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan) | Salvage teams work to avoid an environmental disaster after the MV Ultra Galaxy cargo vessel was ravaged by storms on the West Coast. (Photo: Ethan van Diemen)

By Kristin Engel - 15 Oct 2024

Big changes are brewing at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in the Government of National Unity.
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When Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dion George came into his new portfolio, he was hesitant to make promises and set clear objectives, but marking his and his deputy ministers’ (Bernice Swarts and Narend Singh) – first 100 days in office, he announced the department had initiated a review of its regulatory frameworks in a bid to simplify procedures and reduce unnecessary red tape.

In addition, the department will institute a simplified fishing rights application process and a departmental spending review.

In his media briefing in Parliament on Tuesday, 15 October 2024, George said the last time the department initiated a review of its regulatory frameworks was 12 years ago.

The review would aim to “streamline governance and compliance processes” and make the country’s environmental regulations “more efficient, transparent and effective”.

During his first 100 days, George said they began the process of identifying bottlenecks and areas in need of improvement.

“I am pleased to share that we have made substantial progress in starting to simplify procedures and reducing unnecessary red tape. We have also started to engage with industry leaders, environmental organisations and community representatives to gather feedback on regulatory obstacles,” he said.

In doing this, George claimed they were developing practical solutions that reflected the realities on the ground and ensured that the country’s policies struck the right balance between environmental protection and economic development.

Responding to Daily Maverick on what bureaucratic barriers the department was looking to remove and what specific procedures were being streamlined, George said the regulatory framework was a very complicated environment as the minister was the appeal authority for the environmental applications and mining.

“The intention is not to remove those very important regulations that protect our environment and create the balance that we need to find. Because obviously we want to dig minerals out of the ground, but at the same time, there is an impact on the environment. We don’t want to remove anything that would have a negative consequence. That’s something that we’re very mindful of.”

George said they were conducting a comprehensive review, looking at the regulations and pieces of paper that the department requests, but doesn’t actually need.

Once he has the comprehensive list and it is clear that there won’t be any unintended consequences, he will begin the necessary changes to the regulations to “write them out”.

“That would make processes and businesses faster without doing any harm… I think that’s the crucial issue.

“I want to make it crystal clear that it is not my intention to make it easier or impact in any way on the Environmental Impact Assessment process… It is very important that any time there is development or mining, the environmental impact is looked at very closely and it does not remove any safeguard at all,” he said.

The minister said this review would not weaken anything, but assess how the department currently reviews Environmental Impact Assessments, “bearing in mind that we do have our Climate Change Act also in place”.

Simplify the application for fishing licences
In the minister’s first press briefing in office, Daily Maverick’s Don Pinnock told George that one area the minister could address to drastically improve the department and the lives of small-scale fishers was to simplify the application form for small-scale fishing rights. The complex process had left fishers unable to receive fishing rights for the past 15 years, despite being fishers for generations.

After that first press briefing, George said he immediately went upstairs with the fisheries officials who had been present to look at this form online “and it was very complicated. I could see very clearly why it was that fishers, many of whom cannot read, battled to actually navigate that process.”

The minister directly engaged small-scale fishers and coastal communities and subsequently initiated a process to simplify the application for fishing licences.

“By removing bureaucratic barriers and streamlining procedures, we aim to make it easier for local fishers to obtain the necessary permits to operate legally and sustainably,” he said.

What the department will do, and what George said they had already initiated, was first to make sure that the information requested was needed. Second, that support was available for an application process.

Singh said the department also sought to make recreational fishing permits available at large supermarket chains.

Six priorities
George and his deputy ministers outlined in their “Big Six Priorities” for the next five years:

• The recently signed Climate Change Bill: A timeline has so far been developed for the Act’s roll-out, engaging stakeholders, and incorporating climate education into curricula.

• The “Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Icon Status Strategy” (Kiss) seeks to transform iconic sites into world-class destinations for conservation and sustainable tourism.

• The “Fair Industry for Lions, Leopards, Elephants, and Rhinos” (Filler) is dedicated to ensuring a sustainable future for South Africa’s iconic wildlife while boosting ecotourism and conservation efforts – with a commitment to ethical conservation practices and a “clear and decisive stance against captive lion breeding”.

• The “Fishing for Freedom” initiative connects local communities to the ocean economy while managing these resources sustainably and equitably. George said it aimed to simplify fishing licence applications for small-scale fishers and engage directly with coastal communities to address their needs and challenges.

• The “Regulatory Efficiency Strategy for Environmental Turbocharge” (Reset) focuses on streamlining environmental governance processes to enhance efficiency and transparency.

• An initiative referred to as “Money” addresses the need for financial efficiency within the department amid budget cuts (over the medium term, the department’s budget has been reduced by nearly R2-billion) by attracting donor income, engaging with private sector partners and conducting a spending review.

DM

At last there is somebody who is realistic in charge!

assess how the department currently reviews Environmental Impact Assessments

Ja! Currently just a box-ticking exercise.

100 DAYS REPORT

Environment Minister Dion George delivers a refreshing message — but can he walk the talk?


Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George. (Photo: Luba Lesolle / Gallo Images)

By Don Pinnock | 22 Jun 2025

Reporting on his first year in office, Dion George was clear, firm, and unapologetic. Whether his promises will be backed by policy, enforcement, and legislative clarity remains to be seen.
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The minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, Dr Dion George, has declared an uncompromising stance against the uncontrolled exploitation of South Africa’s wildlife.

Though his official One Year of Progress report last week was the expected list of good deeds and projects, he was more forthright at question time. “I will not be setting a quota for lion bone exports,” he said in answer to a question after his address. “And I have no intention of doing so.”

He said he would wait until “a judge says something, and then when they do I’ll decide what I’m going to do”.

The session was dominated by tough questions on wildlife ethics, mining and international trade in rhino horn. George positioned himself as a minister willing to confront entrenched industries, foreign pressure and even other government departments — particularly when it comes to the protection of lions, elephants, rhinos and cheetahs.

Captive lion breeding

In his presentation, George gave a firm commitment to bringing the controversial captive lion breeding industry to an end.

However, on the ground, his intentions don’t line up with actions. In a scathing report to Parliament earlier this month, the NSPCA outlined the ongoing cruelty of the industry and the snail’s pace of change.

George outlined his strategy. The first step, he said, had been to not register new facilities. “No new breeding operations can open without my permission, and no one has asked for that permission.”

Thousands of lion carcasses — once stockpiled for the bone trade — are now available for destruction. However, George gave no indication as to how or when this would be done. Nor was there any clarity on how many breeders had accepted the government’s voluntary exit programme

The next hurdle, according to George, will be negotiating with private owners who still have live lions. “That’s where it’s going to get sticky,” he admitted, “but the process continues.”

This policy, he said, builds on a Cabinet decision to phase out captive breeding for commercial purposes, a practice long criticised by conservationists and international observers for fuelling illegal trade and cruelty.

International rhino horn trade

George rejected lobbying efforts to legalise international trade in rhino horn.

“Let me be clear,” he said, “there is an international ban, and we have no intention of requesting that to be lifted.” This comment seems at variance with his written report, in which he says: “The trade of rhino horn and lion bone [is] under consideration.”

While domestic trade in rhino horn remains technically legal — after a 2017 court ruling overturned a government moratorium — George questioned its relevance.

“What do you do with this massive stockpile of horn?” he asked. “A large part is from natural deaths, but the idea of a once-off sale raises serious concerns. Does it feed demand? Does it encourage poaching later?”

He added that no move toward such a sale was planned in 2025 and emphasised the need for “thought and caution” before any further steps were taken.

Read more: Let it burn, says animal welfare NGO about South Africa’s 75-tonne rhino horn stockpile

Cheetahs to India

South Africa’s controversial cheetah export programme to India also came under scrutiny by journalists at question time, occasioned by the high-profile deaths of relocated animals.

“There were climate issues, wrong timing and other problems,” said George. “I’ve received a comprehensive report, but I’m not satisfied.”

Until he visits the Indian facilities and confirms that conditions meet South Africa’s standards, no further cheetahs will be exported.

“I will not approve anything else until I’ve seen it with my own eyes,” he insisted. “Reports aren’t good enough.” He said he wasn’t planning a trip to India anytime soon.

Elephant numbers

On the topic of elephant population, George took a more nuanced position. While acknowledging a growing population in Kruger National Park, he pointed to differing views on the issue.

“There is science — and then there is science,” he quipped. Some ecologists argue that elephants are damaging vegetation and squeezing biodiversity, while others say the damage is overstated when the park’s vast size is considered.

George has already signed off on a comprehensive elephant management plan, developed with SANParks. “Culling is included as a last resort,” he said, “but we have not taken that decision.” Any such move would be science-driven and tightly controlled.

Mining battles

George was asked if he was willing to challenge the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), especially near ecologically sensitive areas such as Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, where coal prospecting is under way.

Currently, under the One Environment System, the DMRE grants environmental approvals for mining — a framework many conservationists argue is inherently conflicted. George is not yet calling for a legislative overhaul, but made it clear that he acts as an appeals authority and has not shied away from overruling mining permits when necessary.

“There does arise sometimes a difference of opinion. The Department of Minerals’ push is to mine, because that’s their function. What is my mandate is to make sure that the environment is not degraded, that it is healthy, and if there’s mining it’s restored, etc. So, the current situation as it is does sometimes cause some abrasion.”

He said he had made decisions that made some people extremely unhappy. “But I will continue to make them — without fear, favour or prejudice. If I’m taken to court, then so be it.”

His office, he claimed, had finalised 162 environmental appeals since July 2024, “a majority of which were processed in the past 100 days” — a reflection, said George, of his commitment to fast, fair and science-based decisions.

Read more: Coal hunters encircle Africa’s first wilderness and rhino sanctuary

Wellbeing

George’s stand on wildlife wellbeing comes as broader regulations, such as Nemba, remain mired in litigation, and the long-awaited National Environmental Management Laws Amendment (Nemla) Act 2 has not yet been promulgated. One flashpoint is whether animal wellbeing should be explicitly included in environmental law — a clause now under legal dispute.

“We do already have some legal avenues to enforce welfare,” he said. “But government wants to get this right. We need it in the law.”

There is presently a case in the Constitutional Court by the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association to strike down the legislation on the treatment of wild animals, and particularly the word “wellbeing” in the draft. There is as yet no clarity whether George’s department will stand firm or buckle.

So sue me

It is, however, rare for a South African minister to tread so publicly on such thorny ground, particularly when it risks clashing with powerful sectors like mining, game farming and international trade diplomacy. Yet George seemed unfazed.

“People are unhappy with decisions? Then they must take it through the courts,” he shrugged. “That’s how it has to work.”

He portrayed himself as a fact-driven pragmatist in a complex political environment. “We are a developing country. There is always a tension between economic growth and environmental protection. But our constitutional mandate is clear.”

Lines in the sand

Whether George’s promises will be backed by policy, enforcement and legislative clarity remains to be seen. The issues he addressed — lion exploitation, elephant overpopulation, cheetah ethics, rhino commodification and mining authority — are long-standing, legally tangled and politically sensitive. But his speech to Parliament was clear, firm and unapologetic.

In a country where environmental policies are often compromised by vested interests and bureaucratic inertia, George’s words were refreshing. “I will not permit further cheetah exports. I will not allow new lion farms. I will not support reopening the rhino horn trade.”

For now, those statements are a line in the sand. Whether they remain there — or get washed away by the tides of industry and politics — will define George’s legacy as minister. DM

I wish he would promote trade in rhino horn!

It's a difficult question