DA slammed over stuffed giraffe PR stunt: ‘Lack of respect’

The Gauteng branch of the Democratic Alliance (DA) has come under fire after using a stuffed giraffe head to make a political statement.

The stunt, led by Shadow MEC for Roads and Logistics Evert Du Plessis, has been particularly criticised by animal rescue activists.

DA GAUTENG USES STUFFED GIRAFFE TO HIGHLIGHT SINKHOLE CONCERN

On Friday, 14 August, the DA’s Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) shared a Facebook post that went viral for all the wrong reasons.

In it, the party’s Shadow MEC for Roads and Logistics, Evert Du Plessis, visited the site of a sinkhole located in Mogale City.

To emphasise the gravity of the situation, Du Plessis and his team placed a stuffed giraffe head inside the hole, captioning the post: “A sinkhole so deep a giraffe can stand in it”.

It continued: “Residents and small businesses in the area continue to live with the danger and disruption. To drive the point home, a giraffe prop was placed in the hole to show just how deep and serious the problem is.

“We are calling on the Department of Roads and Logistics and MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela to intervene urgently and fix this before someone gets hurt. How long must residents wait?

Former Mogale City Mayor Tyrone Michael Gray also used the giraffe prop in several Facebook posts that took jabs at the ANC-run local municipality.

Gray was removed from office in 2023 following a vote of no confidence. In recent months, Gray was named as the mayoral candidate in the upcoming Local Government Elections, which are scheduled to take place on 4 November 2026.

ANIMAL ACTIVISTS, PUBLIC NOT IMPRESSED

The DA’s use of a giraffe’s stuffed head went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Animal activists at Owl Rescue Centre unknowingly reacted to pictures of what appeared to be a giraffe stuck in a hole.

The rescue and rehabilitation centre shared on its Facebook account that it had even received an urgent call to rescue the animal, which had reportedly been spotted in Hekpoort.

It shared: “Naturally, we rushed straight out to help. Right up until we received this photo and realised it might be a prank. ​Turns out, it was. The local branch of the DA thought sticking a stuffed giraffe head into a hole was a clever way to draw attention. 

Annoyed at having wasted their precious time and petrol, the centre added: “DA- You owe us a donation towards fuel, please”

In another post, the rescue centre added: “When a wild animal’s life might be on the line, we don’t wait around, we respond. What if it had been real?”

“Our only intent was to highlight a critical reality; there are dedicated people out here who will drop everything at a moment’s notice to save wildlife. Using an actual dead animal to score political points isn’t just unethical but deeply disrespectful to our wildlife and biodiversity”

Tagging the DA, it continued: “We get it. We understand why you need to bring attention to the state of our roads and sinkholes. And we even get the joke. But using an animal to make a political point just crosses the line for us.

“​For us, seeing a stuffed giraffe head, a wild animal that was once wild and free, likely shot and mounted, stuck in a hole for political points, just feels wrong. We probably have a different outlook on life than most because we work with these animals every day, but to us, using animal remains as a prop shows a real lack of respect and empathy for our wildlife and biodiversity.

In the comments section, the DA’s Tyrone Michael Gray responded to the centre. He replied: “Should the person who gave a false report not be held to account?”

Others agreed with the Owl Rescue Centre.

Rita Groenewald: “This was not funny…there are better ways to highlight a sinkhole. Many people were distressed, and Owl Rescue Centre could have spent their time saving other animals that needed their help”

Donna Slater: “Whoever thought up this joke needs to find a new job”

Christina Lind Milne: “Yeah…this one was a misstep, guys. Probably better to keep animals out of it”