Was Dalu Mncube the victim of a family feud?

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Wed, 06 Jul 2011 7:00p.m.

It appears Dalu didn't have the right papers to work in New Zealand

It appears Dalu didn't have the right papers to work in New Zealand

By Natasha Utting

Last week Campbell Live broke the story that 'Lionman' Craig Busch had repeatedly warned authorities that the Zion Wildlife Park had become dangerously unsafe after he had been fired.

His warnings appeared validated when Dalu Mncube was killed by a tiger there six months after Craig left. But why did this tragedy really happen?

Was it that the park had become more unsafe under Patricia Busch's leadership?

Former keeper and Dalu's best friend Richard Mthembu says no.

He says Dalu was as much the victim of the family feud between mother and son as he was of Abu the tiger.

While Craig Busch was the star of the Lionman series, Dalu was the man behind the lions.

Craig had first met Dalu Mncube at the wildlife park he worked at with Richard in South Africa.

“Craig actually promised Dalu a better future... Dalu grabbed it with both hands,” Richard said.

It appears Dalu didn't have the right papers to work in New Zealand - but Craig brought him out anyway.

Initially it was a close relationship.

“He was quite trusting. Craig was the brother he never had,” Richard said.

Craig made Dalu senior keeper at Zion, but by the time Richard came out to work at Zion too, he noticed his friend's relationship with Craig was changing.

Craig had been fired from the park by his mother Patricia. The family feud was in full swing and staff were getting caught in the crossfire. Richard says the staff were asked to pick sides, and Dalu was caught in the middle of it.

Watch the video for the full story.

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Comments

18 Sep 2011 04:41a.m.

Pete wrote:

Perhaps the reason why both Craig and his Mother cannot respond or wont respond is down to legal reasons. As they say, You can pick your friends but not your family. It seems to me that Craig has been shafted and back stabbed by people he thought he could trust (including that guy in the vid). I can't help but feel there's a lot of bitterness and jealousy towards Craig. That guy should be back in the park, they should never have got rid of him.

11 Jul 2011 09:57a.m.

Bryan wrote:

Hi I would endorse Suzannes comments and confirm that last Saturday Craig was in Auckland as I found in at Rondevous Hotel in Auckland. One has to ask why he is hiding from his responsibilities and not fronting up.

07 Jul 2011 02:13p.m.

Suzanne wrote:

I think he is an exceptional animal handler, quite possibly the best we ever had in New Zealand. As a businessman he couldn't run one if he had an instruction manual and a team of advisors at his beck and call. What irritates me is Television puts these stories on but where is Craig Busch? Why does he not appear in any of them to make comment? We are told that he is in Africa, well hello NZ, i know for a fact Craig Busch has been in Northland for approx two weeks and flew out of the country yesterday morning. I know this because we have mutual friends who I happened to be visiting last week when i saw him there on two separate ocassions. I feel that if he had anything of substance to say then why avoid fronting up on camera? Running from reporters who want to give him an opportunity to respond to comments made about him is not the way to gain support. I wish he would just front up and tell people whats going on instead of avoiding issues. It just makes him look as if he is guilty of the accusations people are making about him. In the end the ones that miss out are the cats and all the people who want to see them. What a pity.

07 Jul 2011 02:42a.m.

Monica wrote:

I try and follow Craig's career , ,, we still have VT's every day of his earlier successes. Animals usually are far more aware of instinct than any of us homo sapiens. Am not sure exactly how the issues have come out but have to say Craig Busch is still very well respected and liked in the UK