Where is the prohibition notice on new captive lion facilities, Minister Maynier?
The captive lion industry in South Africa remains a stain on our nation’s international reputation despite the fact that its closure is DA, ANC and South African government policy.
After a torturous process, the prohibition on new captive lion facilities was adopted unanimously by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 24 March 2026. Each of the 9 provinces voted in favour of the prohibition, including those provinces where this industry flourishes.
The reason for the prohibition is clear. The captive lion industry must be closed because it is not only an evil practice resulting in a lifetime of misery for every lion that happens to be born in a cage; it forms a part of the wider illicit wildlife trafficking criminal network.
Minister George would have immediately signed the prohibition notice after it was adopted by the NCOP, but he was interrupted. His removal in November 2025 was the direct result of his determination to drive the policy to action. The first Minister to take action on actually implementing the policy.
His replacement, Minister Aucamp, was clearly not going to lift his pen given that he was appointed precisely because he was a proponent of the industry and an active supporter of “wildlife ranching”. All eyes are now on his ambition, as the current Minister of Agriculture, like former Minister Steenhuisen before him, to expand the role of the Department of Agriculture to oversee wildlife “once it is captive bred and ranched”, just like other “agricultural products”.
With the appointment of Minister Maynier, there is now renewed hope that the prohibition on new facilities will be gazetted into law as decided by the South African Parliament in its implementation of the will of the people.
The Conservation Trust calls on Minister Maynier to do his job and sign the prohibition into law.
This is a crucial step in closing the industry and certainly not the last. Existing captive lion breeders have a, compensated, voluntary exit option and, after ending the establishment of new facilities, Maynier must focus on ending breeding at existing facilities. He has much to do and now is not the time to do nothing in the hope that he can somehow remain immune from the consequences of any action he takes.
The entire world is watching, Minister, and we will ensure that they never look away.
