Ms. Andrea Von Holdt, Environmental Manager at the Coega Development Corporation
In August 2026, a group of suspected poachers was apprehended in the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The successful operation not only reaffirmed the Coega Development Corporation’s (Coega) unwavering commitment to conserving fauna and flora in the SEZ, but demonstrated how effective communication, cross-departmental coordination, and rapid security dispatch drive Coega’s response to illegal activity.
Ms. Andrea Von Holdt, Environmental Manager at the Coega Development Corporation, outlined the sequence of events that led to the detainment of the suspects: I received a phone call from one of our service providers who conducts plant and animal search-and-rescue operations before site clearing.
He 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 security response vehicle was dispatched immediately.
While security responded, the South African Police Service was 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 and snare removal sweeps by independent anti-poaching operations.
The primary targets for poachers are antelope species due to their commercial value.
These individuals are not poaching for basic subsistence.
They are running a commercial enterprise.
Legitimate hunting requires valid permits, property owner consent, and licensed firearms,” continued Von Holdt, none of which are in possession of the poachers Coega actively protects its assets by combining property law enforcement with groundlevel 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).
As Coega, we serve as a catalyst for the championing of socio-economic development, but with that comes a responsibility to ensure that economic progress and environmental conservation occur in harmony.
