Are any of you South African PH's attending the PHASA annual meeting this week?

We need to get to the bottom of some disturbing allegations by asking one or two questions of some executive committee members who were allegedly caught hunting illegally in Namibia.

In one case, a tracker was shot and lost the use of his arm. If my sources in South Africa and the USA are correct in their statements to me, they are not co-operating in compensating him.

I don't know what the extent of all this is yet. I am just passing along a request concerning these allegations.

However, if what they are saying is true, there must be some legal records to prove it. A open query at the PHASA meeting would blow the lid off the story.

Is this how you follow your editorial leads??

Got any better ideas? I won't be at the PHASA meeting.

I get an email from someone, and I'm asking questions to see if there is anything to it.

Besides, how does it concern someone in Australia?

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

Besides, how does it concern someone in Australia?

Huh?? If my location was USA would it be OK if I asked the question??

I have an interest in Africa..

Why dont you just ask PHASA??

Alan has every right to ask IF any unacceptable behaviour has taken place.

And if this has happened, it is up to us to make sure it is brought out into the open.

It would be OK if a PH from South Africa contacted me and agreed to ask the questions, instead of an Australian questioning how I follow leads, editorial or otherwise.

If a member of the PHASA ExCom was hunting illegally and shot someone, and is not being forthcoming in compensation, then it is unlikely that contacting PHASA and asking them anything is going to get any answers. Besides, I already have an inquiry in to someone there, thanks for the advice.

You have an interest in Africa all right, and a apparently a compelling, personal interest in this story. After all, scalded dogs are the ones who bark.

Why don't you tell us all what it is? I think you know a lot about this story, don't you?

Maybe just start a new thread 'Australian interferes with international investigation'...

Australian, or ex-patriate South African?

Got any close friends or family in this scandal? Otherwise, why are you talking about it?

I have some familiarity with this incident. The tracker was shot accidently by an American hunter when he tripped during the follow up of a wounded leopard that charged. The only illegality involved was that the Namibian PH of record refused to sit in the blind during the hunt or accompany the SAPH go after the wounded cat. He was too affraid to get out of his land rover. All he did was drive around with the windows up presmably sitting in a puddle of his own urine with a snot bubble coming out of his nose. He has a history of this behavior refusing even to sit in the blind during the hunt because of his fear of leopards, which he is obligated to do.

Truth be told, the only reaason there are any mutterings of illegal hunts is primarially to extort exorbidant sums of money in connection with the tracker shooting incident. Restitution was offered and declined.

If you really want to open up this can of worms I promise it will be quite revealing and unflattering to a number of individuals.

For the record I am not involved in this event but am friends with one of the key players. The event you are refering to transpired in 2008 and now 2 years later comes to light. There is an email that basicaly said if you pay $XXX all will be forgiven and forgotten if not we will go to the authorities and alledge illegal hunting.

Illegal hunts, I would be willing to bet we all have to one degree or another albeit inadvertantly. Too close to the vehicle, or water hole, smaller than legal caliber, a few minutes before or after legal shooting time, or who knows what.

Thanks MMS for offering to share what you know about this debacle with the interested readers of this forum.

quote:

Originally posted by MMS:
I have some familiarity with this incident. The tracker was shot accidently by an American hunter when he tripped during the follow up of a wounded leopard that charged. The only illegality involved was that the Namibian PH of record refused to sit in the blind during the hunt or accompany the SAPH go after the wounded cat. [After which the next illegality followed: The South Affrican PH then proceeded to hunt illegally without a Namibian PH being present.] He was too affraid to get out of his land rover. [Presumably after the South African PH who was illegally sitting with his (?) American client in a blind let the American wound the leopard, the Namibian OH was called to assist with the followup? Now the question comes up as to why the Namibian PH "refused" to sit in the blind, as he should do to make the hunt legal? Was he aware of any serious shortcoming in the experience of the South African PH? Did he know something about the shaky shooting to be expected by the American client? Or was he simply to scared to even be in a hide set for a leopard? Did he openly admit that he was to scared to get out, take the tracks and follow-up on the wounded leopard?] All he did was drive around with the windows up presmably sitting in a puddle of his own urine with a snot bubble coming out of his nose. [Nice description of a shit-scared PH!] He has a history of this behavior refusing even to sit in the blind during the hunt because of his fear of leopards, which he is obligated to do. [OK, this explains some of the previous!]

Truth be told, the only reaason there are any mutterings of illegal hunts is primarially to extort exorbidant sums of money in connection with the tracker shooting incident. Restitution was offered and declined.

If you really want to open up this can of worms I promise it will be quite revealing and unflattering to a number of individuals. [In the interest of the tracker, who only did was he was told to do, and now have ‘lost the use of his arm’, I believe that the can of worms should be opened. Not on Internet, but through an attorney properly representing his interest. But it is already here on Internet, so let’s just watch the developments!

For the record I am not involved in this event but am friends with one of the key players. The event you are refering to transpired in 2008 and now 2 years later comes to light. There is an email that basicaly said if you pay $XXX all will be forgiven and forgotten if not we will go to the authorities and alledge illegal hunting. [Would you mind please clearing my possible misunderstanding of this part? Is it the Namibian PH that now wants $ XXX compensation to be paid to his tracker, or, God forbid, to him? Or who is being "blackmailed" into paying a huge compensation? Presumably the American client? But it could equally well be the South African PH or other PHASA ExCom members? ]

Illegal hunts, I would be willing to bet we all have to one degree or another albeit inadvertantly. Too close to the vehicle, or water hole, smaller than legal caliber, a few minutes before or after legal shooting time, or who knows what.

One last question to which a specific reply may be very revealing is: Did the South African PH at the time of the incident hold an unrestricted South African PH license, i.e. was he allowed to guide a client on a Dangerous Game hunt in at least one province in South Africa?

Yet a last question: In the heading of the thread the words

quote:

ExCom members

, note the plural, was used. Were there really more than one South African involved? If so, what did the other PHASA ExCom member do while all the rest was transpiring?

Yippee! Another trail by Internet! Watch the development, or maybe better said, degradation, of this to a thread of name calling and wild assumptions and particularly mis-reading between the lines!





In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

@Andrew,

In the initial email it said, "...some executive committee members who have been caught hunting illegally in Namibia. In one case a tracker was shot and lost the use of his right arm."

This leads me to think there have been more than one incident and the shooting was just the worst of them.

What is needed is a South African PH who will ask the questions at the PHASA convention to bring it all out in the open. Nothing good will come out of a trial by Internet, but maybe that is what it takes to get to the bottom of these allegations.


@MMS,

Thanks for confirming that this is a true story and not a rumor.

:Alan,

I am NOT a member of PHASA, will not go to the AGM, and can therefore not ask the question.

Incidentally, I will also NOT even consider joining PHASA until they do the following:

1. PHASA openly and consistently condemn "put and take shooting" and act effectively against their own members partaking in this despicable practice.
2. .......?

Well never mind what other reasons I have for not wanting to be associated with an organization that does not act against it's own members that openly and regularly contravene a cornerstone clause of their own Code of Conduct!

The expected [by me, if by no-one else] lack of action against the member(s) of their ExCom for (allegedly) being involved in some illegal hunting in Namibia will be just another one of many reasons for me wanting nothing to do with that organization.

Trail by Internet does achieve one thing: It brings things into the open!

coffee:

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I AM a member of PHASA and although we have our differences from time to time, I've never been ashamed to be so.

Unfortunately, I don't attend the AGM so can't ask the question.......

I personally feel that PHASA has taken enormous steps in recent years to get away from the 'old boy's club' that it once might have been considered and has turned itself into a much more professional organisation.

(IMO) Stewart Dorrington was the start of that to a large extent and I for one would have loved to have seen him be able to continue as President for longer. Another excellent (though earlier) President was my friend Ian Goss who is probably the straightest man I've ever had the pleasure of meeting in my lifetime.

I'm also not a fan of trial by internet and (IMO) whilst it does bring a lot of stuff out into the open it's rarely the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Here is what I have been told were the facts in this case:

South African PH Herman Meyeridricks of Paul Stones Safaris conducted a hunt in June 2008 in Namibia on a farm owned by Ingo Gladis called Wilsonfontein. The clients were two American brothers named Jim and Ed Patka. A leopard was wounded by Ed Patka, and the Namibian PH left with the hunting vehicle to go get some dogs from the farmhouse.

During the Namibian PH's absence, Herman Meyeridricks, who was not a licensed PH in Namibia, pursued the wounded leopard with two trackers and the American clients. The leopard attacked the pursuit party, and during the melee that followed, a shotgun was accidentally discharged by one of the clients.

One of the trackers, Rebeus Ndiiwedha, was seriously wounded in his shoulder, and according to a medical report, subsequently lost 85% of his ability to use that arm. He is an illiterate farm worker, and now cannot even drive a car, as they all have manual transmissions in Africa.

Rebeus is being represented by an attorney named Norman Tjombe. [normantjombe(at)iway(dot)na]

Herman Meyeridricks is a member of the Executive Committee of PHASA and Paul Stones is one of the two Vice presidents.

I have not yet found out who the Namibian PH was, but I'm sure that will come out soon.

Apparently Matt Graham has buggered off back Down Under after refusing to answer any questions concerning his involvement in this case, despite his apparent knowledge and concern. It is interesting to note how friends and relatives of poachers and other law breakers pitch up here with a lot of bluster, then tuck their tails and run for cover when the hard questions come. He could have kept his mouth shut and no one would have realized how close it all was to him, but that would have made too much sense.

It would be funny if it wasnt so serious!! I dont know any of the people involved - I was only questioning your method of research - as a magazine editor.

quote:

Ian Goss who is probably the straightest man I've ever had the pleasure of meeting in my lifetime.

I only can confirm this

I consider myself truly honoured to have been able to consider him a good friend for more than two decades.

Steve it's passed your bed time!!!!!!!!!

It is really unfortunate that a forum such as this is being used to promote personal agendas.

This cyber trial is very one sided. Should the process not be left to the relevant role players and governing bodies to resolve in an amicable manner? Is it this forums purpose to become judge, jury and executioner? Are the assumptions and comments factual or fabricated? I can not for one moment condone any illegal activity and any transgressor should face the consequences of his or her action.

What happened to innocent until proven guilty? I would seriously recommend that the members of this forum who act impulsively and fuel rumours without substance and fact have a look in the mirror. We have become our own worst enemies and are only bolstering the coffers of the "Anti Hunting" fraternity.

Give the gentleman a fair opportunity to resolve the matter and not use this forum to promote the subtle agendas of a personal nature.
How would you like to be treated if you were in a similar situation?

I am confident the matter is in capable hands and is being dealt with appropriately.

I think one of the great resources of the internet is things ARE brought out into the OPEN, and not hidden away so no one can see what is doing or has done.

A political phrase once used in Australia was "Keeping the bastards honest".

Or at least let potential clients know what has been done and whom has been doing it.

I find the, lets hide it away, and let the "appropriate authorities" deal with it comments, on the net, always interesting ...



PS its funny how the serial BSers often want to claim about "trials by internet" not "being the truth" .... got things to hide that they are afraid will one day be exposed?

Gitarope!

If this has occurred in 2008, why haven't the relevant authorities sorted it out?

My understaning of any professional organization is that it has to apply the rules ruthlessly, or it becomes totally ineffective.

Some - SCI comes to mind - can sink so low that the management actions border or criminal!

quote:

Give the gentleman a fair opportunity to resolve the matter

Didn't this happen in 2008? How long does it take for "gentlemen" to resolve such things?
Seems to me they may just be hiding until the dust blows over. Just my perspective.

"I am confident the matter is in capable hands". I guess that is the question isn't it? Just whose capable hands is the matter in?
Peter.

Just remember, with any orginization, public, political, private, or other wise. Especially in the pursuit of upholding noble precepts and principles.

Not all of the eligible virgins were available for the volcano ceremony.

I hunted with Herman Meyeridricks in RSA immediately following this alleged incident.

Vanderhoef,

The incident isn't 'alleged' anymore. There is a victim named Rebeus Ndiiwedha who has lost 85% of the use of his arm. This is a fact and takes the story out of the realm of 'alleged'.

The ugly truth is that the immediate past president of NAPHA, Dietelm Metsger, allegedly does business with the South African PHs implicated in this case. During the recent PHASA Annual General Meeting, he and PHASA leadership were supposedly very outspoken about the investigations into this matter by the NAPHA Disciplinary Committee, as well as the postings here on Accurate Reloading.

Can they possible imagine that just because the 'inner circle' have been caught misbehaving the matter should be ignored? This was reported to me by people who recently returned from the PHASA meeting, which was held near Johannesburg 10 days ago.

With the advent of the Internet, the days are over when organizations like PHASA and SCI are able to protect their leadership cadre who are found violating the organization's code of ethics.

It was one thing when these matters could be kept in secret meetings where all the facts were suppressed under threat of expulsion. But now it is a new dawn and a new day, and the spotlight of truth is making the cockroaches of deceit and corruption scurry for cover once again.

Matt - Alan is a magazine editor?? If true, hopefully someone would be kind enough to name the mag so I will not ever buy it by mistake!!

Saeed said: "And if this has happend, it is up to US to make sure it is brought out into the open". My questions: Who is us?? Please don't include me in the AR Police Force who rides out on their white horse against all preceived things evil in the World. Maybe a forum for those who consider themselves "saviours of all things evil" would be appropriate??

Alan - does your "revolution" thing under your name have anything to do with those Black Panther guys who used the same sign at the Olympic Games some years back. Just wondering, looked kinda the same?? You are somewhat itchy, twitchy when Matt asks a legitimate question huh?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
It would be funny if it wasnt so serious!! I dont know any of the people involved - I was only questioning your method of research - as a magazine editor.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Black Panther guys who used the same sign at the Olympic Games some years back.

Mate, would that be the same Black Pathers that arrived in Munich in September, missed the Olympics and renamed themselves as the Black September Panthers?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B...eptember_%28group%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party

Sorry buddy. Only pulling your leg!

Steve - Yup those were the ones

The ones I was actually refering to were US athletes who used this sign while on the medal stand receiving their medals. Their actions were not received well by most here in the US.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Black Panther guys who used the same sign at the Olympic Games some years back.

Mate, would that be the same Black Pathers that arrived in Munich in September, missed the Olympics and renamed themselves as the Black September Panthers?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B...eptember_%28group%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Panther_Party

Sorry buddy. Only pulling your leg!

I'm not sure why the surprise at a PHASA cover up. They are every bit as corrupt at the top as SCI has ever been rumored to be. More so, as they are a smaller and much tighter organization.

For years they have refused to cooperate with any complaints about their members, until the financial repercussions to their leadership was affected at any rate.

Larry,

OK. I was in England then and we all thought they were just hailing a cab.

Steve - lmao!! Thanks for the chuckle.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Larry,

OK. I was in England then and we all thought they were just hailing a cab.

The focus of this thread seems slightly off track to me. The real issue here is that the tracker was horrifically disabled by a foreign hunter that, as far as I know, has refused to offer any sort of compensation and is apparently justifying it by hiding behind a technicality(reminds me of a similar incident in the "Hunting Reports" section). Last I heard, the client had inquired about the status of his leopard "trophy" and then when pressed as to what he planned to do to help the tracker, he promptly ceased communication and turned it over to his attorney. As we all know, the hunter is ultimately responsible for his actions and it's unfortunate to me that the focus here is instead on Herman and subsequently Paul (however I might be missing something?) both of whom I would consider extremely ethical, based on my time spent with them.

If the story of the Namibian PH's "feline phobia" is true, then Herman appears to have been forced to make a last minute decision (albeit a bad one)to try to salvage the hunt for his client. I'm sure he regrets it, but not because he might end up getting pinched, but because of the poor tracker's injury.

Before we all cast stones here, we should take a close look in the mirror and make sure that the person looking back is completely without reproach. I know I've made my fair share of mistakes and exercised bad judgement on more occasions than I can remember and I thank God it didn't come to light on this forum (or to Alan Bunn!).

In the end, I hope that Rebeus is able to somewhat overcome his disability and that the real person responsible for this incident finds it in himself to do the right thing.

Regards,
Scott

I can't believe that the generous members of this Board have not already started a fund to help this injured Tracker.

I know he wasn't shot by anyone famous but this would actually show compassion for an unknown.

On the one hand there are SA PH’s who guide illegally in other African countries –a practice which should be condemned…

On the other there are those who will hunt legally (in the presence of a PH licensed in the country where the hunt takes place) and then follow up on a wounded animal in order to relieve the animal out of its misery (maybe even to save the client’s trophy).

I’m not taking sides in this but somehow it seems to me there might be a difference between the two scenarios…

Larry
If memory serves me correctly, the black US athletes who gave the black power salute on the medal stand were John Carlos and Tommie Smith in Mexico City.
They were not in any way affiliated with the black September terrorists who attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich.
Not germane to the thread, but I prefer to keep the facts straight.

Did I say they were affiliated with the "black September terorists". No. Read again please.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by TerryR:
Larry
If memory serves me correctly, the black US athletes who gave the black power salute on the medal stand were John Carlos and Tommie Smith in Mexico City.
They were not in any way affiliated with the black September terrorists who attacked the Israeli Olympic team in Munich.
Not germane to the thread, but I prefer to keep the facts straight.

I'm a very proud PHASA member and will find out for you whaat is going on. Something you should have done.

And as Saeed said, why does this story surface now?

All that KAtte (president) said at the AGM is that we should stop spreading STORIES and work with facts only. Advice I would urge you to follow Sir.

@Charl, thanks for your comments. It would be good to have the facts on this. Secret meetings do not help Rebeus Ndiiwedha get compensation.

As for our green fist, the idea was to annoy anti-hunting socialists by stealing some of their favorite symbols: the fist, the color green, and the word revolution.

Hunters are the real conservationists, and the idea of returning that name to its rightful owners is a revolutionary concept, in some quarters. The intent is to piss off PETA, HSUS, and Greenpeace types. The fact that it sends SCI apologists who supported OoA off the rails is just gravy.

Larry
You are correct, you did not reference black September, Steve did. The demonstration occurred in Mexico City not Munich and you are correct, it was not well relieved here.
We've gone way far afield from the thread, sorry for the diversion.

TerryR