Inyathi Park News January 2022

In the blink of an eye, we are at end of January 2022. We are grateful for the good rains and that Omicron turned out to be less dangerous than was predicted. It is probably a lot to be thankful for, except for too much rain and or locusts in places.

Shooting affairs

It is early in the year and our shottists are eager to get onto the shooting range. SA Hunters already has 59 hunting-based regional shooting events and 96 regional sport shooting events on our 2022 calendar. Some more events might be added later. Many of these events coincide on the same day in different regions or branches.

Check out the shooting calendar and plan your participation for the rest of the year. View the regional shooting programme vir 2022 and other relevant information at SA Hunters – SA Jagters – SA Jagters: Streekskietkompetisies 2022. Contact the host branches for more information.

Thank you in advance to all the host branches for their hard work. To our shottists: enjoy these opportunities. We will have to keep our wits together to manage this busy programme.

SA Hunters’ national and regional sport shooting colours

The design and colours of our own national and regional sport shooting colours have been finalised. More information has been sent to shottists and branches about ordering the regional or national colours for those that qualify. Enjoy the acknowledgement! Read more information here.

Acknowledgement of performance by MDS shottists

Because multi-disciplinary sport shooting (MDS) is a developing discipline, it is possible for individual members to perform very well in one or more shooting exercises at a specific competition, although the performance criteria have not yet been determined. To clarify this, Kobus Maree, VP Shooting Affairs, compiled an information document about the criteria for awarding regional and national colours for MDS. The rules are available here.

Expired licences and the Firearms Control Act

At the end of November 2021, we reported that the parliamentary portfolio committee for the Police sent the proposed amendments to the Firearms Control Act back to the Police. This is proof that the public can influence legislative decisions and processes. Thank you for your contribution in this regard.

Every day, we hear about members (also non-members) that allowed their firearm licences to expire. When this happens, there is nothing one can do about it.

Once again, we appeal to members to enter information about their firearm licences on their personal profiles on the SA Hunters member database. No-one else can access this information. The system will remind members well in advance (from 6 months before the licence expires) and on a regular basis to apply for a renewal.

Yesterday, I collected two licence card renewals that had been submitted in October 2019. The renewals were approved on 6 December 2021, and the cards were available for collection at my local DFO on 18 January 2022.

Members can expect to wait for 6 – 12 months – or even longer – for the issuing of licence renewals. These applications are processed at provincial level and not at the CFR. New licence applications will probably take 12 months or more. Similarly, applications for competency and renewal of competency can take a year or longer. The CFR is in arrears with at least 140 0000 licence applications.

In rare cases members are fortunate to receive a new licence approval within three weeks from application. It is common knowledge that the SAPS is unable to manage the firearms licence process, but that is what we are dealing with. Members that submit their renewal applications in time, cannot be prosecuted when their licences expire. In terms of Section 24 (4) of the Firearms Control Act, the old licence remains valid until the renewal has been issued.

HuntEx

We are glad to announce that HuntEx will again be held this year. The lifting of certain Covid 19 restrictions, and the fact that the SAPS approved the first event at Gallagher Convention Centre for 2022, is indeed good news. Diarise the weekend of 22 to 24 April 2022 for HuntEx 2022. We will keep members informed of further developments.

Reading matter

Through Fred Mouton’s eyes

Many of our members love reading, especially about hunting or shooting stories. Magnum has just released a book with a series of Fred Mouton’s cartoons about hunting and shooting. Look out for the book on magazine shelves where Magnum is on display. The cartoons give an interesting perspective on many popular topics. South African humour is unique. Read more about the book here.

SA Hunter readership survey

The editorial team of SA Hunter compiled a short questionnaire to test readers’ opinions. Please answer the questions to let the editorial team know what you prefer to read in the magazine. Members of SA Hunters comprise a large portion of the magazine’s readership. It will only take a few minutes of your time here.

One lucky reader that completes the questionnaire, will win a prize of two knives (a Muela and a Buck) valued at R2 000. See the photograph of the prize here.

Grasses of the Limpopo Valley

In 2021, Tuba and Retha van der Walt won SA Hunters’ conservation award for their work in the Limpopo valley. Tuba and Retha published a new and very useful book on the 50 best-known grass species of the Limpopo valley. It is a useful field guide to assist game farmers and nature lovers to identify grasses in the Northern Province. Order directly from Retha van der Walt at ludwigslust@xnets.co.za or on WhatsApp by 0792096233. SA Hunters’ members qualify for R15 discount on the regular price of R165. Read more about the book here.

Hand delivery of magazines

The closing of yet more post offices because they cannot pay the rent, has created a massive problem with the delivery of magazines to members.

We call on members in the larger city suburbs to change their delivery preference for the magazines (SA Hunter and Magnum) to hand delivery. The magazines will be hand delivered at your home at the same cost as before. Change your delivery preference to home delivery by:

Phoning Michel Schoeman at (012) 8089300 or sending an e-mail to michel@sahunt.co.za
Changing the preference on your member profile on the SA Hunters website or using the SA Hunters App.

Remember to check that your residential address is correct.

Dedicated Hunter and Sport Shooting Status

During the past two years, the Board of SA Hunters decided that members would retain their dedicated status while Covid 19 restrictions applied. It would appear that activities are returning to normal in 2022. Therefore, we remind members well in advance to update their activities for dedicated status on their personal profiles on the website to ensure that a proper record is kept.

Photography Club

The Photography Club already started the year on a high note.

Read more about the club, opportunities for training and participation in monthly competitions and prizes hier.

Role of Board members

During the Board meeting on 25 November 2021, each of the elected board members agreed to provide support to three regions. Regional coordinators and branch chairpersons in the various regions can expect a call or an e-mail from a board member.

The responsibilities have been allocated as follows:

André van Heerden Western Cape, Northern Cape, South-eastern Cape

Kobus Maree Free State, KwaZulu Natal, Drakensberg Eastern Cape

Basie Berg Vaalrivier, Stellaland, Kalahari Bosveld

Danie Momberg Gauteng South-East, Gauteng South-West, Gauteng- North

Richard Sowry Mpumalanga South, Mpumalanga- North, Limpopo

Special offers

Doctari knives

The Doctari ivory knife project will end soon. There are only 27 knives left with ivory handles from elephants hunted by Nico van Rooyen. Place your order now for that special Christmas gift, to avoid disappointment.

Pay R5 500 in SA Hunters bank account no 01443990077; branch code 632005 and use the reference Mes and your mobile number. Send proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za

Memorial publication

Only copies of the memorial books with the hard covers are still available at R300 per copy. This is also the ideal Christmas gift for a dedicated member of SA Hunters. Place your order now to avoid disappointment.

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

Buck-knives

There are only 87 items left in this limited series of 500 Buck knives at R1 000 each. These knives have ivory inlays on the handle with the SA Hunters logo engraved. Transfer R1 000 by EFT into SA Hunters back account at Absa, account number 01443990077. Use your member number and Knipmes as reference. Send proof of payment, your member number and contact details to Realda Goosen at realda@sahunt.co.za

Support to members

Humansdorp Koöperasie

In February 2022 Humansdorp Koöperasie Schmidt und Bender offer scopes at 10% discount to SA Hunters’ members.

Many people are still suffering from the economic effects of Covid 19 circumstances. Herewith information about opportunities by members to members.

Good quality, dry bushveld firewood available at reasonable price in Pretoria area. More information here.
Membership

Recruit members for commission

SA Hunters has 44 347 members.

The Board agreed that a 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.
SA Hunters distributed membership application forms at various dealers. Any member that wants to receive the same material, can enquire with Dorothy Ras by dorothy@sahunt.co.za
The Board also agreed that branches that succeed in resigning up lapsed members, will also benefit from the commission. More information has been sent to Branch chairpersons.