The old saying that men are the hunters and women are the gatherers is becoming less and less relevant as more and more women hunters are emerging. However, the backlash against local and international huntresses has been enormous.

American huntresses Melissa Bachman and Kendall Jones were both catapulted into the spotlight recently when they posted pictures of themselves with lions they had hunted in South Africa, Bachman in November last year, and Jones in July this year.

Adri Kitshoff, the CEO of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa and the first woman to lead this traditionally male organisation, an avid hunter herself, has been the target of many scathing email and Facebook attacks.

In the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Special Assignment focuses on what some have referred to as violence against women and asks questions about how society continues to view women and their roles in public. We shadow Kitshoff on an Eland hunt which she had been planning for nearly a year, at the Rooipoort Game Reserve in the Northern Cape, to understand her views on the matter and get to grips with the issues.

Watch “Rise of the Huntress” produced by Richelle Seton-Rogers on Special Assignment, this Sunday on SABC 3 at 20:30, repeated on Monday at 23:00.

Contact Special Assignment on truth@sabc.co.za.

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