This article was written by Andile April, Communications and Stakeholder Relations at the Coega Development Project.
In August 2026, a group of suspected poachers were apprehended at the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Recalling events of that day, Andrea Von Holdt, Environmental Manager at the Coega Development Corporation, said “I received a phone call from one of our service providers who conducts plant and animal search-and-rescue operations before site clearing. He had spotted a kudu being loaded into a vehicle and, given his anti-poaching background, recognised the crime immediately.
I contacted our security control room, and a response vehicle was dispatched immediately. While security responded, the police were notified, resulting in the swift apprehension of the suspects.”
The operation was a joint effort led by Coega’s Sustainability Business Unit, Security teams and search-and-rescue partners.
To further safeguard biodiversity assets, Coega has updated relevant policies and actively maintains several core initiatives including clear signage to deter illegal entry and activity, an Open Space Management Plan to guide sustainable land use and authorising ad hoc patrols also by independent anti-poaching operations.
Poachers gun for antelope species due to their commercial value, a clear indication that their activity is not for subsistence reasons.
Von Holdt correctly pints out that poachers did not have valid permits, property owner consent, and licensed firearms.
Coega continues to actively protect its assets by combining property law enforcement with ground-level vigilance. In addition to wildlife protection, Coega operates in compliance with environmental regulations.
Under Section 63 of the Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance, 1974 (Ordinance 19 of 1974), Coega holds a valid permit to rescue and relocate protected species from construction footprints within the SEZ.
Beyond local regulatory compliance, Coega’s environmental protection efforts directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
Picture: Andrea Von Holdt, Environmental Manager at the Coega Development Corporation