Parliamentary Questions

[Toko]

PMG

Reply received: November 2014

QUESTION NO. 2156 {NW2630E}

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO. 21 of 2014

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 October 2014

Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:



1) Whether her Department maintains (a) an up-to-date and regularly audited register of rhino horns and (b) elephant tusks accruing to government authorities and private enterprises; if so, (i) what was the stock holding of both of the above since 1 June 2009, (ii) what amount was held by (aa) state institutions and (bb) private enterprises and (c) how secure was the stock pile of both considering the ends to which rhino poachers were willing to go to lay their hands on rhino horns and elephant tusks; and

2) whether the Government intends to appeal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to permit controlled trade in rhino horn in order to discourage criminal syndicates from poaching rhinos; if not, why not?

2156. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:

1) (a) (b) (i) (ii) (aa) (bb) and (c) To provide information relating to this question requires consultation with various components within the Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as with provincial conservation authorities; hence extension is required until 14 November 2014.



2) No decision has been made yet by the Government as to whether or not it would appeal to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to permit controlled trade in rhino horn. This decision will be made only once Cabinet has considered recommendations made by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the report of the Panel of Experts. The latter has been established by Cabinet to consider the feasibility of legalising trade in rhino horn.

[Toko]

PMG

Reply received: November 2014

QUESTION NO. 2155{NW2629E}

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: NO.21 of 2014

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25 October 2014

Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs:

Why the (a) poaching of rhinos is still continuing unabated, (b) shipment of rhino horns is continuing to take place without detection, and (c) syndicate(s) behind the poaching remain unexposed after the much publicised and intense debate on the matter in the National Assembly on 2 September 2014?

2155. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS REPLIES:

(a) Rhino poaching continues to be a priority to the Department and the country. Measures have been put in place, and efforts are continuously increasedto combat Rhino poaching and illegal trafficking of Wildlife.



In one of my recent statements I had indicated that the Department, in collaboration with the provincial conservation authorities: the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force, Justice and Correctional Services, private rhino owners and various non-governmental organisations, has been implementing a large range of interventions to address rhino poaching since 2008. This is mainly due to the fact that as Government we acknowledged that Rhino Poaching is not just an environmental issue, but a crime carried out by World syndicates with elements that requires a cohesive approach with other government Departments. Most importantly, it is a matter of National Security.



The following are an indication that increased efforts that the Government had put in place are starting to pay off:



We have seen some significant results, out of the multi-dimensional approach that has had an effect,as follows:



· the conviction on rhino related crimes has moved from 54% in the year 2011/12, to 61% in the year 2013/14, made up of 26 convicted accused and 85 in the periods mentioned, respectively;

· the number of Rhino related cases registered have also increased from 29 in the year 2011/12 to 70 in the year 2013/14, with the number of accused recorded at 48 in the year 2011/12, to 140 in the year 2013/14;

· the rhino population continues to grow, with more than 18 000 white rhino living in South Africa, on both state managed areas as well as private land; and more than 2000 black rhino living in South Africa on state managed areas, community land and private land;

· the number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that we have signed with some of the key Consumer countries, as well as the good relations established, has borne fruits. These partnerships have resulted in us securing a number of Rhino horn and Elephant Ivory consignments in Hong Kong, Vietnam and the People’s Republic of China. We have also seen several arrests locally, as well and the recent sentence of 77 years on a rhino related matter, whichis yet another success stemming from our integrated approach.



However, the increase in the numbers of illegally killed rhino for its horn is an indication of the need to strengthen the interventions implemented to date, and that is why Cabinet recently approved the integrated strategic management of rhino that includes the following:



i) Compulsory interventions aimed at bolstering the current interventions relating to anti-poaching, actionable intelligence and responsive legislation;



· the Department of Environmental Affairs has, over the years,been faced with a speedily escalating poaching of Rhinos that has alarmed to the level of the Presidency announcing it as a national security matter. Following Cabinet approval, the National Rhino Coordination Centre was established in the Kruger National Park, with all the key strategic role players. The design had to focus on the following:



Ø Coordination of operations

Ø Centralisation of information

Ø Verification of intelligence

Ø Proactive and reactive measures

Ø Crime scene management

Ø Tracing and arresting of suspects

Ø Creation of a dedicated investigation team



The operational concept would have to deal with the above issues, and it entails the following as well:

· Consolidation of data from the KNP, Departments, Internal, external and other sources

· Management of the Joint Operational Centre (JOC)

· Management of operations by all involved

· Provide daily report with recommendations to the NATJOINTS.

The departments represented in the NRCC are as follows:

· South African Police Service

· South African National Defence Force

· Department of Environmental Affairs

· South African National Parks

· The Intelligence Co-ordination Committee structure within the Province

ii) New interventions, including the disruption of transnational crime networks:

· Through the intervention of the Priority Committee on Wildlife Crimes of the NATJOINTS which reports to the Justice Crime Prevention and Security cluster, an Intelligence Working Group (IWG) which is co-ordinated by the National Intelligence Coordination Committee (NICOC), was established to action the strategic interventions within this area as outlined to Cabinet.All affected departments are represented within the IWG.



· In addition, the Priority Committee on Wildlife crime is ensuring that all Provincial structures are co-ordinated, collaborated and functional in the fight against Wildlife combat. To date, meetings have already taken place in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West;and have yielded positive results.



iii) The increase in rhino numbers through translocation of rhino to low risk areas, range- and population expansion

· The first batch of rhino has already trans-located from Kruger National Park to an undisclosed location.



iv) International and national collaboration and cooperation aimed at further strengthening cooperation with range, transit and consumer States

· In addition to the MOUs entered into with the Asian consumer countries, an MOU has been entered into with range states like Mozambique which is mostly affected by Rhino Poaching.

· An MOU with Botswana has been initiated and is under negotiation.

· Recently, South Africa has also engaged in talks with Tanzania, with the view of signing an MOU that would assist in consolidating a common position and approach to fighting Rhino poaching in the region.



v) Long-term sustainability measures, which include the creation of economic alternatives for communities; creating incentives to promote/facilitate rhino ownership; and the consolidation of rhino population across different land-users in South Africa, including national, provincial, private and communal land

· A dialogue has already started, specifically during the recent People and Parks Conference where communities were engaged on the type of economic opportunities that would be viable to creating a sustainable income generation mechanism and to explore their views on partnership with the Department in Combatting Rhino poaching and its impact.



Government has also involved Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) as an affected stakeholder in dealing with Wildlife Crime. PROA is currently represented in the monthly Priority committee on Wildlife Crime meetings.



b) Shipment of rhino horns is continuing to take place without detection

i) The recent arrest of two Vietnamese nationals in possession of 41kgs of Rhino horn, at OR TAMBO International Airport, is an indication of continued vigilance and detection at the Ports of Entry and Exit. All forms of detection continue to be in effect as follows:

· Sniffer dogs;

· Scanning machines;

· Surveillance Cameras; etc.



ii) The Pedestrian by-pass pathway used to detect illegal goods on pedestrians, has also been revamped and is now functional.



c) A list of syndicates referred herein, which contains Mozambican nationals, has been referred by the Department to Mozambique,through a memorandum of understanding focal points, for further handling by relevant authorities.

[Richprins]

Blah blah.

How do they know there are 18 000 white rhino, without a proper census having been done in Kruger, the main stronghold?

How do they know numbers therefore continue to grow?

Why doesn't every convicted poacher get 77 years in jail, especially the Vietnamese?

How many Chinese have been convicted?

How can a 64% conviction rate be acceptable?

etc.

[RogerFraser]

Members please find response to Parliamentary question What is the total number of rhinos that have been poached within the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in the (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16 and (iii) 2016-17 financial years.

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