Anti-poaching organisations invited to register

[Lisbeth]

All non-profit organisations (NPOs), non-government organisations (NGOs), businesses and individuals involved in fighting rhino poaching have been invited to register with the Department of Environmental Affairs by 30 September 2013.

The initiative is one of numerous steps being taken to rid the sector of illegitimate and ill-intended operations and ensure greater legitimacy of organisations and individuals involved in projects aimed at addressing the scourge of rhino poaching in South Africa.

In light of the serious concern by government and members of the public about the increase in rhino poaching, a common goal is being shared by the South African government, private rhino owners, non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, stakeholders and the public at large: to reduce the illegal killing of rhino and secure and grow rhino populations.

Monitoring will be improved

Under the present system, NGOs and NPOs are required to register with government through the Department of Social Development. The failure of organisations or individuals to submit annual audited reports results in the de-registration of such bodies from the Social Development database, but some continue operating despite de-registration.

The registration of NPOs, NGOs, organisations and/or individuals involved in rhino anti-poaching projects with the Department of Environmental Affairs will improve monitoring of compliance with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and ensure that their financial records are up-to-date.

The aim of the registration process is to:

rid the industry of illegitimate operations and ensure that funding for rhino interventions are channelled to the relevant, identified projects;
establish a register of rhino projects, including but not limited to fundraising, anti-poaching, safety and security, support and conservation initiatives;
identify gaps that exist between the work of government, NGOs, NPOs and individuals;
identify priority areas that requires additional assistance;
identify opportunities to collaborate, cooperate or consolidate projects/initiatives or parts thereof;
confirm the registration of rhino-related NPOs with the Department of Social Development and obtain information relating to the registration and reporting requirements; and
develop criteria to assist in determining whether NPOs, NGOs or individuals involved in rhino related activities are contributing towards the fight against rhino poaching and the conservation of the species.

In an effort to coordinate the financing of anti-poaching initiatives, the department is planning to establish a National Rhino Fund in consultation with the National Treasury. The fund will address all interventions directed to rhino poaching.

The National Rhino Fund will result in the consolidation of all funding requirements and ensure that funding is distributed successfully to state- and privately-owned rhino anti-poaching initiatives, including conservation, safety and security, skills development and research.
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/622/100269.html

[Sprocky]

Lis, this is real old news.

[Duke]

The National Rhino Fund will result in the consolidation of all funding requirements and ensure that funding is distributed successfully to state- and privately-owned rhino anti-poaching initiatives, including conservation, safety and security, skills development and research.

The state sells rhinos to private owners in the name of raising funds for conservation.

Private owners, some of them, allow hunting of rhino, they harvest horns, and want to legalize trade.

And we msut donate to them

[iNdlovu]

Ja Duke, we are of the opinion that we (AW and our members) support Timbi as much as we can and we don't need SP or .gov deciding where to use our members' hard earned donations where they see fit.

[mouseinthehouse]

OSCAP didn't register for the same reasons AFAIK.

[PennyinSA]

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ ... nenGb4aLcc

[Richprins]

Penny's link:



Fears at state plan to control rhino funds

November 4 2013 at 10:55am
By BRENDAN ROANE


Johannesburg - The government’s plan to set up a national fund it would manage to combat rhino poaching has been blasted by the non-governmental sector, which fears the fund will be mismanaged.

The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has been forging ahead with the establishment of the National Rhino Fund. It claims this will allow donors to be sure their money is going to anti-poaching projects.

The idea behind the fund is that the government will look at projects that are underfunded and channel the money to them. It also will establish a separate DEA registry dealing with anti-poaching groups.

However, at a meeting with NGOs, non-profit organisations, the private sector and the public in Kempton Park last week, the DEA came under fire.

The major concerns raised included government involvement in the non-governmental sector and a potential mismanagement of funds.

“It’s a clear and absolute conflict of interest,” said Katheryn Kure, director of the eThekwini Community Foundation. She also questioned how the government could expect to raise funds through NGOs and why there was a need for a separate registry.

“It’s a needless duplication within the government,” Kure said. Her organisation was already registered with the Department of Social Development and was accountable to the Department of Justice, the Master of the High Court and Sars, with all finances available to the public on demand.

“When the government says we want to ring-fence your money and we’ll decide how it’s spent, I’m sceptical,” said another concerned person.

Deputy director-general in the DEA Fundisile Mkenti admitted there was distrust in the government’s management of funds but said money would be used responsibly. “The money we get is not for politics; it’s for rhino poaching.”

Sheelagh Antrobus, of Project Rhino KZN, was worried that bigger, more politically connected groups would get most of the funding while smaller ones would get the left-overs. “I’m very concerned that it is going to be like lion cubs at a kill,” she said.

Mkenti replied: “We don’t see competition. You help us by telling us who is funding you… give us those and we’ll avoid them.”

Another issue was whether the government would support groups opposed to legalising the rhino horn trade, because the DEA had a pro-trade stance.

“We don’t care, that’s your mandate… we won’t stop you,” said Mkenti.

brendan.roane@inl.co.za

[harrys]

This government can't spell responsible and they want us to trust then I'll rather trust a hungry Lion alone in the desert than trust these guys

Very bad idea

[Richprins]

“The money we get is not for politics; it’s for rhino poaching.”

[iNdlovu]

“We don’t care, that’s your mandate… we won’t stop you,” said Mkenti.

Then why the need for the fund if nothing changes. It gets more and more suspicious every time they open their mouths.