Complaint lodged over hunting permits

2011-09-05 18:01

Cape Town - A complaint has been lodged with the public protector's office against the Western Cape government over changes made to the provincial hunting regulations.

Environmental Affairs MEC Anton Bredell is also cited in the complaint.

In a letter sent to the public protector's Western Cape office, ANC provincial parliament member Max Ozinsky said: "It would seem that there has been no lawful public participation process followed in this regard.

"The MEC and provincial government... after a meeting with farmers in November 2010, made their mind up to change the regulations to win the political support of a particular group of farmers for the DA, without any regard for the legal processes that must be followed."

The public protector's office confirmed receipt of the complaint, saying it would be submitted to an advocate for investigation this week.

Ozinsky said Bredell did not have the power to change the regulations and that only the board of CapeNature did.

Neither CapeNature nor Bredell had published any notice in the provincial gazette making these changes. There was only a press release on the CapeNature website, said Ozinsky.

- SAPA