Democratic Alliance stunt using giraffe head to protest potholes draws criticism

A political stunt by South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), intended to highlight deteriorating road infrastructure has drawn criticism after causing a wildlife rescue mobilization. To demonstrate the depth of a sinkhole in Mogale City, near Johannesburg, the party placed a stuffed giraffe head inside the crater, captioning the footage: ‘A sinkhole so deep a giraffe can stand in it.’

The stunt prompted several members of the public to contact the Owl Rescue Centre, fearing a real animal was trapped. Rescuers interrupted ongoing operations to respond to the perceived emergency, only to discover the giraffe was a stuffed head from a dead animal.

Wildlife rescuers expressed frustration, noting that they respond immediately to potential life-threatening situations and suggesting the DA should cover fuel costs for the abandoned mission. The party’s shadow member for roads and logistics, Evert Du Plessis, had used the visual to argue that local road safety and infrastructure issues are being ignored by authorities.