Fight erupts over actual cause of zoo koala’s death
WILLIE the koala could have lived longer if the experienced people meant to be taking care of him were on duty instead of striking.
This is according to staff members at the Pretoria Zoo who have been protesting for over a month. They are demanding benefits such as medical aid and housing allowance.
However, acting managing director and spokesperson for the zoo, Craig Allenby, rubbished their claims and maintained that everything was running smoothly.
According to him, the koala died on Saturday while under the care of the veterinarians.
The death was believed to have been caused by a chronic liver condition the animal had.
“We are still awaiting histopath reports from our veterinary department. The koala was 13 and a half years old and their longevity in the wild is about 13.”
The striking workers said they had not received any allowance since they were transferred to the zoo from the National Research Foundation in April last year. They’ve been on a protected strike since June 12 after being given the go-ahead by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on May 21.
Frans Rasethe, branch secretary of the National Trades Union Congress, said in the long run the zoo management had ensured employees were eventually allocated housing allowances. However, they were still not given medical allowances.
Rasethe said they did not understand why only the one issue was dealt with, hence workers had still not returned to work.
“The office of the minister assured us that the money was available, but employees still feel like it is taking too long. This is why we have sought intervention from the department to ensure SANBI management delivers on the rest of the workers’ needs.”
In the meantime, running of the zoo continues to slide, Rasethe alleged.
“Comments by management that things are running smoothly at the zoo is a lie. There have been incidents occurring in the zoo to the point where an important species has now died.
“Willie the koala died because the relevant people to take care of it are striking for their benefits.”
Shop steward Ndivhuho Munyai said the recorded lifespan of a koala in a zoo should be 22 years. “Our (koala) could have survived longer… We don’t deny it was old, but its state was aggravated further by lack of staff.”
Allenby said management were on track with ensuring benefits were paid by the deadline on March 13 next year. He said only 30% of the staff were on strike, and there was no link between the koala’s death and striking workers.