Prominent political commentator Max du Preez has angered farmers and hunters by weighing in on social media on the subject of hunting. On Friday he posted on Facebook: "The NG Kerk in Riebeek-Wes is celebrating the Lord by killing off some of His creatures: a hunting weekend for parishioners."It promises to enrich the soul and deepen the spirituality of the participants. Hallelujah."The post triggered a flood of responses, from professional hunters, who mocked "the biltong eaters", farmers who claimed that culling is essential, and conservationists who condemned "the killing of God's beautiful creatures".Others berated Du Preez for "jumping on the bandwagon" following the outrage at the killing of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe last week.Adriaan Woudstra, the organiser of HuntEx, an international hunting and sport-shooting expo, said: "Hunters are generally conservationists. It sounds like a contradiction but it really is very simple. The majority of hunters in South Africa are meat hunters, not trophy baggers. And events like the one held yesterday in Riebeek West are common and very necessary."Rian Loubser wrote: "Farms are not subsidised in South Africa. So any form of income is welcomed. If culling does not occur, then the vegetation suffers and the animals starve in the long run. That's animal cruelty for you."Pastor Andre Duvenhage, who leads the congregation at Riebeek West, Western Cape, said Du Preez's post was disproportionate.He said: "At this time of the year the farmers around here battle to keep their young crop from being eaten by ducks."A farmer, who did not want to be named, said: "We shot about 10 ducks. That's it. We made it a social event, with clay pigeon shooting and other entertainment."Du Preez said his post was a "light-hearted comment on the irony of celebrating the creator by killing off some of his/her creatures"...