Meeting Committee Environmental Affairs 03 Mar 2015

[Flutterby]

Too many words...not enough action!

[Lisbeth]

Too many words...not enough action!

[Toko]

https://pmg.org.za/committee-meeting/20488/

Department of Environmental Affairs on its 3rd quarter 2014/15 performance and targets outlook
Committee: Environmental Affairs

Chairperson: Mr J Mthembu (ANC)

Date of Meeting: 10 Mar 2015

Mr Ishaam Abader, DEA DDG: Legal Authorisation and Compliance Inspectorate, said in 2013/14, there was a 25% increase in the number of dockets registered (1862). Almost 21% more dockets (379) were sent in 2013/14 to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) compared to 2012/13. With convictions, there were 78 in 2013/14. Specifically with rhino related prosecutions in 2013/14, 50 cases were finalised while in 2014/15, 70 cases were finalised. 140 accused were involved in 2014/15 in the rhino related cases and 95 in 2013/14. With convictions, in 2014/15, there were 85, 13 acquittals, cases were withdrawn against 25 people, 20 accused were convicted and sentenced to a fine and 50 accused were convicted to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine. In 2014, 9 people were found in possession of rhino horn, 24 people involved in the illegal hunting of rhinos, 32 people involved in illegal firearms and ammunition and 44 cases of trespassing.

Ms Ngcaba said this information would also be made available in writing to the Committee.

Mr Morapela could not reconcile an increase in the numbers of poaching and an increase in strategies put in place.

Ms T Stander (DA) thought the Committee needed to understand that DEA could only do so much with regard to the scourge of rhino poaching. She believed the Department introduced a number of brilliant interventions and had worked hard within its ambit. What was preventing a reduction in rhino poaching incidents were the porous border between SA, Kruger National Park (KNP) and Mozambique, poor crime intelligence and poor arrest and conviction rate. There were over 500 incidents in the Kruger National Park alone last year yet of that, only about in the region of 200 or 300 arrests took place. A lot of the responsibility in this environment was that of the Department of Justice, Police and he Defence Force and not DEA but ultimately this was where the buck stopped for the protection of threatened species. She asked that the Department enlighten the Committee on how it could assist in some areas where its hands were tied.