The 2022 annual game auction was a success

Various game rangers from all over the country and abroad gathered at Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve near Ventersburg for DESTEA 2022 Game Auction. The Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs hosted the 32nd game auction from the 27 to 28 May 2022 after the hiatus imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual game auction is part of managing game populations in the state-owned reserves and to generate revenue for the Free State provincial government.

Historically, three categories of lots are offered for sale; live game packages, hunting packages, and carcass packages.

The two-day event managed to put an auction of 8109 heads of the game in which the packages are divided into 117 hunting packages, as well as 5 875 carcasses.

The Game Auction has been a highlight of the wildlife economy sector calendar for many years and a revenue generator for the provincial fiscus and this year’s game auction was no different.

The two-day event generated R10 400 000.00 in revenue collection and the auction proved to be a success. A single buyer spent R980 000.00 on black wildebeest, springbok, eland, waterbuck, plain zebra, giraffe, and a kudu.

A total of 117 live hunting packages consisting of 18 different species were auctioned. The total amount spent by one single bidder was R230 000.00 for a Non-Trophy Hunts package while the other bidder spent R140 000.00 for a buffalo.

The transformation of the game industry is still one of the key priorities in the department.

For the transformation of the game industry, the department continues to encourage the participation of previously disadvantaged communities through programs and opportunities it offers.

Source: Government of South Africa