Millions of rands could be lost to KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) burgeoning film industry if a policy regarding the issuing of permits for animals in captivity comes into effect. For the past six years Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s board has tried to regulate the use and captivity of wild animals as performing or working animals.
Ezemvelo has not abandoned its efforts to enforce a withdrawn 2006 policy which would have prohibited “working animals”, defined as “animals that are domesticated, tamed and trained and put to work to perform in the film / advertising industry or in a circus”.
In December 2010 during the festive holiday period Ezemvelo issued a complicated 90-page document which required public comment by 31 January 20ll.
EzemveloÕs own validity and its power to issue this document is to be challenged by the Animal Interest Alliance (AIA) that comprises commercial animal, bird and reptile breeders, zookeepers, animal trainers and filmmakers. The AIA will seek to show in court that the board is illegally constituted and therefore has no authority to impose a policy that will ensure the demise of a significant part of the KZN film sector.
KZN Nature Conservation Services (aka “Ezemvelo”) derives its power from the KZN Nature Conservation Board, while both fall under the authority of the KZN MEC for Agriculture. According to the AIA’s court challenge, the board has operated without validly appointed members since June 2004 and therefore has no legal standing for the issuing of policies. According to the Alliance, KZN Nature Conservation Board at times comprised only five members and failed to fulfil its mandatory obligations of a minimum of nine to 14 qualified members.
Read more in the February 2011 issue of Screen Africa
