Willie Aucamp, Democratic Alliance Spokesperson and new Forestry, Fisheries and Environment minister. Photo by: Sharo Seretlo
(The Post News) – The Democratic Alliance (DA) have been given until Friday to give reasons on Willie Aucamp’s appointment as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. This is a written instruction from the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).
In a letter written to John Steenhuisen, the NSPCA made the following demands:
- Competencies relied on by DA in the nomination of Aucamp and how this elevates effective governance under the constitution.
- Copies of due dilligence or vetting reports stipulating DA’s satisfaction with Aucamp’s ability to comply with Executive Ethics Code.
- The DA’s correspondence to the Presidency which suggests the appointment of Aucamp and excludes justifications for the recent dismissal and replacement Dion George.\
- A review of Aucamp’s conflict-of-interest regarding links with wildlife-breeding and captive-wildlife industry must be completed. It must outline proposed corrective measures in response to significant public concerns raised by civil society groups.
The commotion over Aucamp’s appointment emerges during allegations of his linkage to a family business that hunt animals for profit. He also has been in support of an organization tha has been accused of representing interests of captive lion industries that practice lion-breeding for exploitative purposes like trophy hunting and bone trading. This is a practice that will soon vanish from South Africa’s surface.
In the Defense of Trophy-Hunting
Aucamp’s organization works alongside Piet du Toit which is an exotic game and safari farm that offers trophy hunting. This is considered a lucrative but controversial industry valued at R1.98 billion on annual basis.
Although Aucamp’s local website doe not mention trophy hunting, the international sites feature some images of hunters. Trophy-hunting is a legal practice in South Africa but widely condemned. It is considered cruel and unkind to wildlife.
Defenders of this practice explained its necessity in maintaining conservation, supporting habitat protection and anti-poaching efforts. Challenges posed to the DA by the NSPCA over Aucamp’s appointment involve a complaint that was laid from the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA). The organization urged President Cyril Ramaphosa and John Steenhuisen to reconsider their decision.
Dion’s termination was pre-empted by WAFSA in their complaint at the first mention of Aucamp. Megan Carr, organization co-ordinator, confirmed that WAPFSA believes that Steenhuisen was contemplating on axing Dion prior to the CITES COP meeting in November 2025.
Is Steenhuisen Part of the “Conflict-of-Interest”?
Carr questions Steenhuisen’s authority in addressing a meeting of a business linked to Aucamp as this is a clear representation of conflict of interest. Steenhuisen addressed the Piet du Toit game auction which is a business listed as a partner with Aucamp’s family business.
Steenhuisen was approached for commentary and he defended his attendance at the auction. He stated that such an action was nothing out of the ordinary and slammed alleged involvement in lion hunting and breeding.
He said that he has never participated in such and only visited the auction like every other political leader as a guest and him as a Minister of Agriculture. Wildlife conservation and ranching fall under his portfolio.He further stated that in his ministerial capacity, he is expected to interact with a variety of stakeholders to make informed policy decisions.
Elizabeth Margaret Steyn (EMS) Foundation is an influential animal lobby group and has had input on the controversial appointment. They stated that this appointment ruined the thriving influence of wildlife-breeding and trophy-hunting lobbies inside government.
The foundation stated that Dion’s removal was more than a cabinet reshuffle, but rather a political take down that will harm the country’s wildlife. After Dion took office, he moved to demolish the captive-lion industry.
He confirmed that South Africa will not support reopening the trade in rhino horn or ivory. Including the issuing of trophy-hunting quotas for elephant, black rhino and leopard. Such decisions made him vulnerable to public threats and also an asset to long viewed wildlife.
EMS further reported that when the DA joined government, their leader and Agriculture minister affiliated himself with wildlife-breeding. He appeared unfamiliar with the rigid scientific and legal matters of the portfolio and leaned heavily on Aucamp for understanding. By early 2025, Steenhuisen was in open and full support of the industry.
Aucamp was not available to give any comments thusfar. Both leaders, George and Steenhuisen quarreled over George’s removal, prompting Helen Zille to intervene. She referred the matter for investigation to its legal commission.
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