Game auction raises millions for Eastern Cape coffers

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The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency says final figures for its game auction held in Nelson Mandela Bay on Wednesday will only be available in two days time.

Acting CEO, Vuyani Dayimani says initial estimates indicate that they may have reached half of their target of between five and seven million rand.

The auction at the Boardwalk saw over 500 animals being offered for sale.

These included Zebra, Black and White Hartebeest and Springbok among other animals.

He says the money raised from the auction will be invested on the parks operations, conservation projects, upgrading infrastructure and looking after the animals.

Dayimani says overall it was a good showing but he was disappointed that just 15 of the 43 Buffalo on offer had been sold.

"It is a highly contested species, one of the large mammals. We ware of the view that the prices that we are expecting are well researched we can defend them. We are of the view that our quality is of good product, its TB free, disease free, good pastures, it has got ecological integrity so we were of the view that the prices were reasonable." says Dayimini.