Ramaphosa denies trophy hunting allegations

PETA alleged that the president is benefitting from trophy hunting by being the owner of Phala Phala, a wildlife farm in Limpopo.

The organisation also claimed that Ramaphosa and Phala Phala have a stake in Tsala Hunting Safaris, a privately-owned hunting outfitter

According to the Presidency, the main business of Phala-Phala is breeding game.

"Phala Phala’s wildlife breeding and management activities comply with best ethical and lawful practice in the sector", says Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale.

"Neither Phala Phala nor President Ramaphosa is engaged in illegal or unethical activities in any form.

"Phala Phala undertakes annual culls of game such as impala, buffalo, kudu and wildebeest to avoid carrying excess numbers and the farm entered into an agreement with Tsala Hunting Safaris to hunt the aforementioned game that would in any event have been culled.

"However, since it has been alleged that Tsala engages in the hunting of threatened or protected species on other properties, Phala Phala has given notice that their hunting arrangement will be terminated.

"This decision is in line with Phala Phala’s commitment to sound conservation principles, and its demonstrable compliance with ethical and lawful wildlife management standards,” says Seale.

The organisation has previously also taken issue with Ramaphosa’s interest in racing pigeon breeding.

"President Ramaphosa has been a pigeon breeder since the age of 16 and owned a flock of pigeons as a young man living in Soweto in the 1960s and ‘70s," says Seale.

"The president has been engaging with breeders in Soweto and the Western Cape about the development of the industry, as well as on the increased participation of young, black entrants in pigeon racing.

"That PETA US continues to use its platforms to disseminate false information regarding Phala Phala Wildlife and President Ramaphosa is wholly regrettable."

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