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Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) celebrated its twentieth birthday last Tuesday. Colin Engelbrecht, chairperson of WRSA, said while the country’s wildlife numbers had improved significantly from 560 000 animals in the 1960’s to over 20 million in 2026, the real change happened in recent decades.
“The Game Theft Act of 1991 (Act 105 of 1991), which granted ownership of wildlife to landowners, was the catalyst. It paved the way for pioneering ranchers to invest in conservation through sustainable use practices.”
Along with higher game numbers, Engelbrecht also celebrated the fact that roughly 20 million hectares of marginal land have been restored and rewilded over the past few decades.
With great power comes great responsibility
The Game Theft Act enabled the formation of the South African sustainability model – a system where wildlife conservation is driven by economic value, private stewardship, and sustainable use, ensuring that wildlife pays for its own protection and growth.
This approach is often misunderstood internationally, as in many countries wildlife is legally owned by the state rather than by private landowners.
According to Engelbrecht, the responsibilities and challenges of the growing local game industry were initially navigated by various splinter groups. However, a small group of pioneering individuals recognised the need to unite the fragmented voices into a single representative body for the whole wildlife industry.
Teething problems
Borrie Erasmus, the first chairperson of WRSA, explained that although the industry is dynamic today, achieving this stability was not easy.
Prior to the formation of WRSA, game owners were represented by the South African Game Organisation (SAGO). Its membership was structured at a provincial level, but not all regions agreed with this model, which led to considerable conflict.
By 2005, dissatisfaction with national-level decision-making had reached a boiling point. To resolve the impasse, a special meeting was convened in Bloemfontein at the offices of Free State Agriculture. After some debate, Erasmus was elected as chairperson. He accepted the position on condition that a new organisation be established based on a federal system, with membership structured at national rather than provincial level.
The birth of WRSA
Subsequently, WRSAs inaugural meeting took place on 17 October 2006 at the Tshwane Events Centre. Those present included Dr Gert Dry, Coert Steynberg, Reuben Saayman, Charl van Rooyen, Peet Koen, William Rabie, Jannie van Vliet, Tony van Vliet, Jacques Malan, Borrie Erasmus, Jan van der Walt, Boet van Rensburg, Frans Cronje, Pillipus Olivier, Leon Prinsloo, Hennie Erasmus and Prof Nick van der Merwe.
“Today, WRSA stands as the main voice of the wildlife industry – an organisation that has grown and matured into a respected and influential force within the agro-sustainable biodiversity wildlife economy,” Engelbrecht said.
Most of the founding members of the WRSA board of directors, as well as all but one of the past presidents, attended the twentieth birthday celebrations, held at Wolwespruit in Pretoria.
Engelbrecht thanked all previous leaders, especially Erasmus. “Your leadership helped build the foundation upon which this industry continues to thrive.” – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
