The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA) Lodged an Official Complaint with the Democratic Alliance Federal Legal Commission and with President Cyril Ramaphosa
10th November 2025
“The Democratic Alliance leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has publicly proposed that Mr Willem Aucamp, National Spokesperson of the Democratic Alliance, replace Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George.
Members of the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA) are hereby raising an official complaint with regards to this proposal.
In our view, Mr Willem Aucamp’s private interests could influence the state’s decision-making to his own advantage, by shaping laws to benefit himself.
In June 2025, WAPFSA founding member EMS Foundation, raised concern about the ambiguous and contradictory messages created by the Democratic Alliance with regard to the highly contentious issue of the captive lion industry.
Given the above, of deep concern was the fact that Mr Willie Aucamp, the National Spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance and Desiree van der Walt attended the Annual General Meeting of the Sustainable Use Coalition of South Africa (SuCO) at Mabalingwe in Limpopo in June 2025. This was not in their personal capacities. Willie Aucamp, stated in on his social media platform that he was privileged to address the Annual General Meeting of the Sustainable Use Coalition of South Africa (SUCo-SA) at Mabalingwe.
Mr Willie Aucamp, is proudly, explicitly and publicly aligned with South Africa’s hunting and wildlife breeding, including genetically modifying species, specifically for trophy hunting.
His family have interests in the hunting and breeding of wild animals for profit. Aucamp’s clear alignment with this specific sector which vociferously supports the agriculturalization of biodiversity makes him an entirely inappropriate candidate for Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment as it stands in stark conflict with South Africa’s environmental legislation and policies as well as international Treaties to which South Africa a Party.
Noting that The Public Service Commission Act clearly states that a "perceived conflict of interest" is where a public official is in a position that appears to be influenced by his/her private interests when doing his/her job." If Aucamp is appointed there will be a clear situation in which a public official has a private interest which influences, or appears to influence a public decision. Moreover, given that his family will likely benefit commercially from decisions that benefit captive breeding and hunting it may constitute corruption in terms of theThe Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) 12 of 2004.
We also draw your attention to section 195 of the South African Constitution which sets out the basic values and principles that govern public administration. Services must be provided impartially; fairly; equitably and without bias.
Undermining the independence of key departments such as the Department of Foresty, Fisheries and Environment for private or factional gain and/or advancement will severely damage public trust and confidence in government and the political system as a whole”.
RHINOS IN AFRICA IS A MEMBER OF WAPFSA