The Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) in the Free State must come clean on their involvement at the Bloemfontein Zoo.
On 17 December 2019, the DESTEA closed the zoo citing a lack of permits. It appears that the applications for permits were submitted, but not allocated. This effectively cut off all income for the zoo.
From the time of closure some animals died from malnutrition, even though the Department’s vet did regular inspections on the animals. Last Friday, the 6 March 2020, the zoo was closed permanently by the DESTEA and the animals removed.
The zoo was meant to have been moved to a municipal farm, Kwaggafontein, outside of Bloemfontein in terms of a Mangaung Council decision in 2013. It is alleged that R40 million has allegedly been spent on planning for this proposed development at Kwaggafontein. This would have included among others large enclosures with walkways for visitors, an environmental centre and a boutique hotel. This council decision has never been rescinded.
The DA is aware that since 2013, there has been a keen interest from developers to obtain the valuable land that houses the zoo. It appears there is political pressure for these transactions to be completed before the 2021 municipal elections.
It is no coincidence that the SPCA were immediately informed when animals died and not before. Furthermore, the media were contacted by a former New Age reporter in Bloemfontein every time there were animal deaths and when the DESTEA arrived to close the zoo. The welfare of the animals and the zoo itself appear to be part of a carefully orchestrated campaign to play on the sentiments of the public and to sway public opinion in favour of closure.
The real issue is that developers and their political allies are circling the valuable property like vultures and that the animals are mere political instruments in a commercial venture.
In 2013 the former MEC for DESTEA, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, indicated in the Legislature that “animal welfare is the mandate of the SPCA” and “controlling wild animals is an animal welfare issue”. This begs the question why the wild animals at the zoo are now of such interest to the Department, and support the argument that there is commercial politics at play here.
The DA in the Free State have been actively campaigning along animal welfare issues and presented a successful motion during a DA Federal Council meeting in July 2015 for the recognition of animal sentience and the basic freedoms for non-human animals. The DA would like to thank the Bloemfontein SPCA for their continuous efforts in the interests of animal welfare.
I will submit questions to the MEC of the DESTEA, Mr Makalo Mohale, to determine among others where the animals have been moved to and under which authority they were removed. The DA will also monitor any commercial transactions and developments at the property on which the Zoo is housed since it is also a valuable heritage site for Bloemfontein.