Inyathi Park News July 2023

7 August 2023

Dear colleague

Structure of newsletter

We start with the new, essential information first, followed by the regular news.

Therefore, members can get up to date with fresh news first and read other information later. We have several new and important matters to report on this month.

SA Hunters Congress

The official notice of the SA Hunters Congress was sent to branch chairpersons, board members, members of the Extended Board, heritage council members, and management on 4 August. The congress will be held on 4 November 2023 at the CSIR’s international conference centre. The official notice and relevant supporting documentation are available here.

Buffalo hunting opportunities

We remind members of the hunting opportunity offered by SA Hunters in collaboration with SA Jagter/Hunter for a member to hunt buffalo in the Coutada-11 hunting concession in Mozambique at the end of November 2023. All costs are included. Read here for more information. Tickets cost R100 each, and you can buy as many tickets as you wish.

Pay R100 or multiples thereof in SA Hunters’ bank account by EFT. The account is with Absa, account number 01443990077; branch code 632005. Use your mobile phone number and Buffalo as reference. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

This hunting opportunity includes:

One trophy buffalo bull
One trophy waterbuck
One trophy reedbuck
All travel costs
All accommodation in the hunting camp for 7 nights
Taxidermy services

New Messages

Women’s Month

August is Women’s Month, and 9 August is Women’s Day. SA Hunters wants to thank women for the enormous role they play in our lives. Without their support, most men would have had a difficult time coping with everyday life.

We want to highlight branches’ efforts and initiatives that focus on women. Please send us information about shooting days and any other special events for women. We will share these initiatives on SA Hunters’ Facebook page. Other Women’s Day celebrations include special offers on a range of products available at the SA Hunters Shop. Look out for announcements on the shop’s page.

Please send your contributions to dorothy@sahunt.co.za

Rhinoceros

According to statistics released by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment last week regarding rhino poaching during the first 6 months of 2023, 231 rhinos were poached in South Africa from January tot 30 June this year, of which 42 in die Kruger National Park and 143 in KZN. These incidents remain shockingly high and will result in the total eradication of rhinos of something is not done urgently. During the same period, 31 culprits were found guilty and sentenced. It is clear that poachers moved their attention from the KNP to KZN.

SA Hunters and social media

Charlotte Lourens who had looked after or social media over the last six months, left the Association recently. Marette Bennett will stand in for now. Please liaise with Marette about posting any messages.

Charlotte supported a few branches with their Facebook pages. Please note that branches remain responsible for the administration of their Facebook pages. Unfortunately, we cannot provide a complete administration function from the national office, but we would like to help where possible.

Contact Marette and Dorothy for support.

Marette Bennett marette@sahunt.co.za

Dorothy Els dorothy@sahunt.co.za

Dedicated Status

Members with dedicated hunting and sport shooter status must register qualifying activities annually top retain their status. We have noticed that many members have not yet registered activities and might loose their dedicated status. Dedicated status is essential for anyone wishing to own more than four firearms. If your status lapses, you may lose your firearms.

We will soon notify members whose dedicated status lapsed in 2022 before we report them to the SAPS, as required in terms of the Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000 as amended).

Members have until October 2023 to register the required three sport shooting and two hunting related activities to retain their status for 2023. Enquiries: Petrus Swart on (012) 808- 9300 or petrus@sahunt.co.za

New Website for SA Hunters

SA Hunters’ new website should go live at the beginning of September 2023. The software of the current site is outdated and is no longer being supported. Therefore, we had no choice but to redevelop our website. Thank you in advance to Lizanne Nel and her team that have been working long hours to prepare the new website. Watch this space for the announcement of the launch date.

Use of Handguns

We received several reports that members that carry handguns for hunting or sport shooting purposes (Section 15 and 16 licence) are being harassed by SAPS and the metro police. They argue that handguns may only be used for the purpose for which they were licensed. This behaviour might just be a way of intimidating the public or to solicit bribes.

The Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000 as amended) states that any licensed firearm may be used “for a legal purpose and where it is safe”. It is not correct that a firearm may only be used for the purpose it was licensed.

The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo issued an official notice on 19 July 2023 to confirm that any legally licensed firearm may be used for self-defence and that the act does not state that a firearm may only be used for the purpose it was licenced. Read the notice here.

Shooting Affairs

National President Shoot and Inter Branch Team Shoot

The National Inter Branch Team Shoot will take place at the Meerkatgat shooting range of Vrystaat Sandveld Branch on 18 August 2023. The National President Shoot will be held at the same venue on 19 August 2023.

International Large Calibre Shooting Event

The SSAA in Australia (SA Hunters’ sister organisation in Australia) postponed the international large calibre shooting event until 23 to 25 August 2024 in Darwin North Australia. Read the invitation here and the format of the competition here.

Hunting Affairs

Eastern Cape Hunting Proclamation

The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the Eastern Cape published its hunting proclamation in the provincial newspaper on 24 July 2023. The proclamation was structured in such a manner that it need not be renewed annually, except if there were drastic changes. The proclamation is available here.

Dallas Safari Club moved its annual convention

The Dallas Safari Club’s convention on 11 -14 January 2024 will be held in Dallas for the last time this decade. The convention centre will be undergoing construction and the DSC decided to move the venue to Atlanta from 2025 tot 2029. View here

Game Meat Recipes

Is your biltong or sosatie recipe the best in the west? Do you want to share your game meat recipe with us? SA Hunters wants to share a game meat recipe on social media once a month. Your recipe can be the winning recipe of the month. Any recipes are welcome as long as game meat is in the ingredients. Send your favourite recipe to Boetie Kirchner at boetiek@sahunt.co.za

President Series Knives

We remind members of a Board decision to produce a limited series of knives to pay tribute to living former presidents of SA Hunters.

The first series of only 25 numbered knives that represent the preference of Oom Nic van der Merwe, is ready for orders. Members that order the knife can choose between handle of camel thorn wood or ivory. A photograph of the knife is available here.

Members can transfer R2 500 in the bank account of SA Hunters at Absa, account number 01443990077. Use your member number and Nicmes as reference.

SA Hunter and Magnum Magazines

Some members are still uncertain about the number of magazines they receive annually. Some delivery problems have also been reported.

Report any problems with delivery to Michel Schoeman on (012) 808 9300 or michel@sahunt.co.za

There are eight editions of SA Hunter every year: Jan/Feb, March/Apr, May, June, July, August, Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec.

There are only six editions of Magnum annually in Jan/Feb, Macht/Apr, Mayi/Jun, Jul/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec.

Phone OntheDot’s call centre at 0873531291 to report delivery problems.

If your query regarding hand delivery is not receiving sufficient attention, let me know at fredc@sahunt.co.za

Repeated messages

Alternative contact telephone numbers for SA Hunters national office

Continuing load shedding in Pretoria affects our telephone system. If you cannot get through to us on 012 808 9300, try any of the following numbers:

Reception: 082 848 8547

Firearm support: 066 256 2916

Training: 082 658 6680

Finances: 082 727 5158

Hunters shop: 066 231 8185

Support Members

We wish to remind members to support fellow members.

Wildflowers of the Limpopo Valley

Retha van der Walt ‘s book Wildflowers of the Limpopo Valley – Including Mapungubwe is available again. The regular price is R350 plus postage. Retha is making her book available to members of SA Hunters at R330 plus postage. Order the book directly from Retha at ludwigslust@xnets.co.za Confirm your membership of SA Hunters to qualify for the discount. More information and a description of the book are available here.

Complete Guide to Snakes of South Africa

Herpetologist Johan Marais’ revised edition is now available in Afrikaans and English. The regular price is R450. Members of SA Hunters can order a signed copy of Johan’s book in either Afrikaans or English for R392, which includes free delivery. Place your orders with Fernanda at info@asiorg.co.za or 060 957 2713. More information is available here.

Membership

Earn commission

SA Hunters has 41 899 members.

Every member or a branch that recruits ten or more members per year, can earn commission of between R100 to R150 per member. More information is available here.

The Board agreed that branches that succeed in resigning lapsed members, will also benefit from the commission. The branch chairpersons have more information.

SA Hunters distribute member application forms to various dealers. These forms are also available from Dorothy Els by dorothy@sahunt.co.za

Memorial publication

Only copies of the memorial books with the hard covers are still available at R300 per copy.

To order your copy:

Transfer the correct amount (R300 for the ordinary version or R1 000 for leather bound version) in SA Hunters’ bank account at Absa, account number 01443990077.

Use your member number and Book as reference. Check that you enter your member number correctly to ensure that we can process your order.

Commercial Affairs

We are revising our commercial offers to members. The SA Hunters Shop offers a wide variety of hunting and outdoor products. Members of SA Hunters already receive 10% discount on most purchases. Products from some of our suppliers that offer discounts to members are also available at the SA Hunters Shop. Members will understand that double discounts are obviously not available from these suppliers that also do not want to compete with SA Hunters Shop. We offer these suppliers of hunting and outdoor goods that have been supporting or members, the opportunity to build our business together.

The suppliers of these special offers are revised annually in July to ensure that we offer quality products and services to our members. Our new website makes special provision for commercial affairs, which offers great opportunities for additional marketing. The commercial benefits will be posted weekly on our social media pages.

Individuals interested in offering their products to members, can contact:

Marette Bennett marette@sahunt.co.za

Dorothy Els dorothy@sahunt.co.za

We also welcome referrals to businesses that support SA Hunters.

Humansdorp Co-op gives 5% special discount on a variety of hunting and shooting related purchases in the shop at Humansdorp. SA Hunters Shop stocks a variety of products from Humansdorp Co-op.

LAVA Vacuum packaging – 5 % discount on vacuum sealing machines and 10% discount on bags.

Hokaai Butchery – 7% discount on game meat prices and in-store purchases.
Mainsu – Discount of a variety of equipment

A Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa – The regular price is R450, but Johan is offering a signed copy to members at R392 per copy, delivery included.