Would you ever consider booking a hunt with...

I'm afraid I have seen and have experienced Hunting Associations as basically self serving organisations with a limited range of benefits for members.

The question I have is why wasn't PHASA aware of this guys modus operandi ? Is it an organisation where membership is automatic without checks or balances ? No organisation in any field of endeavour can be perfect but if the organisation has a code of conduct, ethics or stated goal, why don't they monitor it ? Did this member slip through the net or was a blind eye turned ?

The more time I spend hunting the less trusting I become of organisations and the often necessary evil of paid access to hunt.

Code4,
It's been almost a year and although he's been suspended I know of no other disciplinary action or charges brought against him. The lawyer says he has no money for a civil judgement, and no one else seems interested in putting this guy behind bars for fraud and theft. Even though there are a number of local land owners that were taken advantage of, it doesn't seem to matter. We've contacted all the ones we hunted on both years and showed them proof that we paid in advance for all our trophies, he's still at large. He is an ex police officer and military guy so maybe they system is just so corrupt hhe's untouchable. Wes

Sir

There is always three versions of a story ... yours, mine and the truth ...

Do I make mistakes, yes I do because I am human....

It is amazing in life that we always look at all the mistakes that other people make instead of trying to fix the mistakes that we made ...

"Anger is a defense mechanism where you take whatever is bothering you and is wrong within you, then you project it on another person and blame him or her for it. Frequently the other person accepts the blame, which satisfies you temporarily but doesn't solve the problem,"

Nobody say a word about the fact that PHASA had to reinstate my membership in 2006 because they suspended me without reason ...

I don't want to comment on the current outstanding suspension today ...

i just want to attach the sworn affidavit that was used by Wes :



Johannes Hendrik Schoeman

Identity Number 8802225093088

Residing at :

Exit 6
Maun Disaneng
Botswana

Working as a Professional Hunter

State under oath as follow :

I am a mature white man

I have visited Krys Wessels on the 7th June 2011 regarding some outstanding business.

During the conversation Krys asked my about a statement that I made regarding the hunt in Zimbabwe with Wes MacArthur

He handed me the statement that was part of the complaint documents that was send in to SCI

I read the statement that was made under my name and discovered with shock that it was filled with false facts.

Krys asked me if I was willing to make a sworn statement that the statement was false.

I agreed to do so and this is the reason for this statement.

I will deal with the false facts in detail in a later document.

I have also looked at other Statements and some facts in the other statements were also false.

Johannes Hendrik Schoeman


Sometimes we must just try to be fair ...

I am more than willing to give the details of what really happen to any person who want to see this allegations from a different angle ...

I want to leave you with this humor that will give you some perspective in life

Dlamini is found with apparatus to brew Umqomboti in his homestead after a tip-off by neighbors, and the following day he appears in court to answer to the charges.

Judge: Dlamini, do you swear to tell this court the truth to the best ofyour knowledge?

Dlamini: Yebo my Lord!

Judge : You are being charged on possession of apparatus to brew an illicit brand of Alcohol / Umqomboti, do you agree?

Dlamini :Yes my Lord, I agree with you!

Judge : Thank you for not wasting our time Dlamini, and as such the court is going to charge you on that instantly.

Dlamini : (surprised) But sir, it was the apparatus alone and there was no Umqomboti in it, how can you charge me?

Judge :No ways!, possession of the apparatus alone is a crime hence you are going to be charged!

Dlamini :Well my Lord, before you pass the sentence, can you also charge me on rape?

Judge perplexed) Did you also rape someone?

Dlamini: No my Lord, but I have the equipment right here. Didn't you say that "possession alone is a crime"!!!!

Have a great day

Krys Wessels

Good post Krys, and i respect a man that stand up for the facts.
Though as you correctly stated in your post - there are always 3 sides to a story and getting to the truth does not come easy.

Originally Posted by fhm3006

Good post Krys, and i respect a man that stand up for the facts.
Though as you correctly stated in your post - there are always 3 sides to a story and getting to the truth does not come easy.

"Good post Krys" Are you kidding me?! This forum doesn't represent a grand jury and it shouldn't. However, Wes provided a pretty specific listing of abuses, not the least of which is the creation of a situation where a minor in Mr. Wessels' charge was put at risk. With an opportunity to offer one of those three sides he so righteously alleges, he provides a ridiculous and irrelevant joke. I wouldn't go anywhere near his operation.

Red Leg,
perhaps i did not express myself clearly (ageing problem)
What i meant was that i respect Krys's actual reply to the matter in giving some insight from his side.
Albeit the issue of leaving a minor in the care of someone you trust, to find out afterwards that your trust was misplaced - is unforgivable - and i am sure all of us with children is in accord.

Perhaps Krys care to comment on this issue, if it was anything else than deserting the boy to his own fate...?

Sir

The boy who want to be an apprentice PH, that was the reason for being coming to Africa, stayed with three mature men in the camp, all that were being exposed to big game hunting.

As I said there are always, my side, your side, and the truth

If you want to be an "Appi " you become part of the team and if things doesn't go according to the plan you fit in and become part of the solution.

It is the easiest thing on earth to be judgmental, when Dakota missed his shots and we ran out of time I organized for him to get his permit extended...

This fact doesn't get mentioned nowhere...

There is no person on earth who has only bad qualities ... do we make mistakes .. yes I do all the time because I don't sit an my backside and wait for things to happen, I make them happen.

I can forward you the whole document Sir.. my answer on these accusations was 90 pages ...

Thanks for the positive manner in which you responded on my answer and I trust this explanation will meet your approval

Regards

Krys

Originally Posted by Red Leg

"Good post Krys" Are you kidding me?! This forum doesn't represent a grand jury and it shouldn't. However, Wes provided a pretty specific listing of abuses, not the least of which is the creation of a situation where a minor in Mr. Wessels' charge was put at risk. With an opportunity to offer one of those three sides he so righteously alleges, he provides a ridiculous and irrelevant joke. I wouldn't go anywhere near his operation.

Sir

Read the joke again please ...'

This exactly how we judge people ... the fact that the allegations is based on a false sworn statement doesn't matter ...

I have copied the exact wording of the statement that the statements used is a FALSE STATEMENT into my reply and still without even knowing me you say that you wouldn't come near my operation ...

What does it mean then to be fair ...

So I can start posting false allegations against people and then wait for them to prove that that that wasn't the truth ...

I cannot believe that if you are a reasonable man you will stand up for this ...

Have a great day Sir

Regards

Krys Wessels

I think Krys Wessels is con man and liar. There are always varying truths to anyone story. But poor Wes MacArthur got taken to the cleaner and then some...poor guy. He seemed very dedicated to hunting....and I'm sure his feelings are hurt a little... and then some. And the bad joke has been told way to many times to me....when I hear it now it tells me even more about someone.

There are just a few bad apple outfitters in RSA. That's why is so important to really "get to know" your outfitter before you book a trip. Putting money down on a hunt is pretty important decision. Personally, I would only hunt with someone that has a very good track record...my time and money and too important to take chances.

Appears this will only deteriorate to a "he said" "she said" debate. I can only say that not knowing who is telling the truth beyond a reasonable doubt, I must default to the evidence I had available. EVERY landowner we spoke with told us the same story, including the land owner we stayed with in Zimbabwe. All were told they didn't get paid, because we didn't pay Mr. Wessels. We provided payment proof to all of them to clear our name. To my knowledge none of them have received compensation for the trophies we took on their properties. The owner of the lease concession in Zimbabwe, I met with in person at SCI and he told me the same story. No payment was received for the Cape buffalo, 2 hippos, and the leopard that were taken by us and Colorado Buck. I paid an additional $4000. to recover our two trophies (cape and hippo). I also had to pay additional to recover the Lion Dakota took. Could it be that these landowners are ripping me off for additional money? It's possible. I have been in contact with numerous clients of Mr. Wessels who have not been able to recover their trophies for a variety of reasons. Some of these hunts happened prior to ours in 2009. Our booking agent lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in deposits. All of the individuals involved in the Zimbabwe mess, gave us basically the same story. Vaatjie has proved himself to be as big a liar as anyone we've met, so he could have lied to me, or he could be lying to Krys. Who knows. The others stories backed him up so I chose to believe their recounting of what happened to be true. SCI has chosen to revoke Kry's membership, where from my understanding he had an opportunity to present evidence in his defense. So all in all, I had the choice to believe 4 landowners, 6 former clients, 4 former employees, one booking agent and one outfitter plus others I won't mention, OR believe Krys. I have no doubt there are specifics that could be debated but for as many sources as I've heard from that confirm the vast majority of our concerns, I'm not sure the conclusion would have been different. I've copied the correspondence I received from SCI below. All in all it was a heartbreaking experience. We loved Krys, Sarie and his kids and were hurt way beyond the lost trophies and money.

Mr. Wessels,

The SCI Board of Directors met on Saturday, August 27, 2011, and decided to expel you from Safari club International. The expulsion is effective as of that date. You no longer have any of the rights or privileges of SCI membership. The expulsion also applies to also applies to any business entity controlled directly or indirectly by you, your spouse, or other closely related family member.

A notice of your expulsion will be published in the Safari Times.

Rick Parsons
Counsel to the SCI Ethics Committee

Big wheels might turn slowly, but when they come down it is not easy to stop them..

Krys, you can make excuses and tell your side, but enough people dealt with you, and all know it is only word play.. no sincerity , just strategy..

Well done SCI, Wess and other involved..