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The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) held its annual game auction at the Mpekweni Beach Resort on Friday.
The agency made more than R1.8m going to the upkeep of its reserves, with 2.5%, amounting to R47,000, for community initiatives and the ECPTA bursary scheme .
A gala dinner on Thursday night focused on two of the agency’s major initiatives; the N2 Biodiversity Offset and the Game Industry Transformation programme.
In a recording, provided by ECPTA ,MEC of of the department of economic development, environmental affairs and tourism Mlungisi Mvoko, said both programmes were proactive steps towards addressing the urgent needs of the environment, conservation and community upliftment.
“The N2 Biodiversity Offset project is a forward-thinking response to balance the ecological impact of the N2 Wild Coast road,” Mvoko said.
“This ambitious initiative preserves about 23,000ha of land which reflects the biodiversity which compensates for environmental effects and boosts local economies by establishing new protected areas which enhance community-led tourism and conservation efforts.”
The Game Industry Transformation initiative exemplified a commitment to inclusive growth in the game industry, Mvoko said.
“We have brought historically disadvantaged communities into the wildlife economy and are setting a precedent for sustainable development and empowerment.
“In the past five years, more than 1,000 game animals have been donated to community provincial ecosystems, showcasing our dedication to biodiversity conservation and transformation.
“These events demonstrate how the Eastern Cape is setting new benchmarks in our collaborative efforts in seeking to craft a future where nature and communities thrive.”
Thirty game farmers and online buyers made bids for ownership of 162 animals at the game auction on Friday.
They had been selected from thriving herds at provincial nature reserves managed by the government and community members, ECPTA chief executive Vuyani Dayimani said.
They included kudu, eland, red hartebeest, plain and Cape zebra, black wildebeest and gemsbok from Great Fish, Mpofu, Nature Reserve, Commando Drift Nature Reserve and Oviston Nature Reserve.
“When we started this initiative, there were no guidelines when it came to transformation in the country, but we braved it, based on lessons learnt,” Dayimani said.
“One year the performance of the auction was so good that we stopped because we didn’t need to take any more.
“There were two bidders, They stopped at R850,000 for one [Cape buffalo] bull.
“I wish those days would come back when I could afford not to sell for R850,000 — but this is a success story of our contribution to transforming the sector.
“This is a reflection that we are no longer wanting to start, we are saying this is how far we have come.”
A hefty 13-year old Cape buffalo bull sold for R107,500, its expansive 41-inch horns making it a coveted hunting trophy.
Two bulls with shorter horns were declared a “no sale” due to low bidding.
Auctioneer Rowan Manuer, of Michael James Organisation Auctioneers, was quick to spot any subtle nod or gesture of offer.
One bidder seated at the back of the crowd with his legs and arms crossed barely lifted two fingers when bidding thousands on animals.
A Michael James representative manning a computer barked to notify Manuer when two online punters entered a bidding war.
A beneficiary of the ECPTA bursary scheme, communal property association Likhayalethu (It is our home) has already seen bursary beneficiaries employed at provincial reserves.
Likhayalethu administers the Brakfontein Community Game Reserve, with chair Lindani Bevile saying: “We are very grateful, our children are going to benefit from this, especially those from the disadvantaged communities.
“Many of our children do not get career exposure, but I know of two, for example, who have graduated from the programme and are employed.
“They can now contribute to their families.”
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