Edna Molewa: Tide on rhino poaching could be turning

“We are under no illusions of the challenges ahead, but we are confident that slowly but surely progress is being made,” she told reporters in Pretoria during a report-back on the integrated strategic management approach (ISMA) to fight rhino poaching.

Since the previous report on January 21, implementation of the ISMA had enabled progress to be made from stabilisation to a downward trend in the number of rhino poached, she said.

In comparison to the first four months of last year when 808 poacher incursions took place, the number of poaching activities now stood at a staggering 1038 in the Kruger National Park (KNP) alone. This increase translated to an average of nine incursions per day, as compared to seven in the same period last year.

Despite this harsh reality, the number of carcasses (poached rhino) in the KNP for the same period had decreased from 302 to 232 – a decrease of 23 percent brought about by the combined effort of all parties involved.

“On a national level we are also able to claim marginal success. In the first four months of 2016, 363 rhino were poached countrywide. During the same period last year that national figure was 404. It is clear that had it not been for the joint efforts of our people the number of carcasses would be significantly higher.

“Our rhino continue to face a daily threat. We have responded accordingly and stepped up our efforts to apprehend suspected poachers.” Since January 1, 206 alleged poachers had been arrested in South Africa, Molewa said.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) with their focus on dismantling complex organised crime enterprises remained committed to addressing the national and transnational wildlife trafficking threat through an integrated approach to prevent, combat, and investigate wildlife trafficking.

The Hawks currently had six projects under investigation, four cases on the court roll, and 11 major investigations underway in relation to rhino matters.

In terms of rhino prosecutions between April 2015 and March 2016 there were 49 finalised cases involving 103 accused. A total of 80 of these accused were convicted, resulting in a conviction rate of 78 percent.

Among others, in the Makhado Magistrate’s Court in January, six men were found guilty of poaching a rhino on a farm adjacent to the Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo in July 2014. Five of the accused were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while another was sentenced to 10 years.

Another successful prosecution was in the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo in February where four men were convicted and sentenced for poaching two rhino in the Naboomspruit area in 2013. The poachers – all Mozambican nationals – would serve effective prison terms of between 14 and 20 years.

The Intensive Protection Zone concept, which remained an important pillar for the protection of the high density rhino population in the south of the KNP was being expanded to other national parks, provinces, and private reserves, she said.

A big part of the current successful results were due to implementation and use of technologies, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), night vision equipment, early warning and detection, and tracking systems. “In our quest for even better results, we continue to pursue new and appropriate technologies and pioneering work is done in this regard.”

Since January, detection capacity at ports of entry had been enhanced by training another 712 multi-disciplinary border officials in addition to the 1047 trained last year. This brought the number of officials that had received training from the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions) on the illicit international cross-border movement of endangered species to 1759 in a space of less than eight months, Molewa said.

Translocation had been an effective tool in enhancing the safety and population management of rhino in the country. “As indicated in January, our translocation programme continued in March 2016. Rhino are being translocated to well-selected locations that meet strict suitability criteria.”

Concurrent with the counter rhino poaching measures, the emerging threat of elephant poaching was receiving due attention, and internally plans were being adapted to deal with this threat in the KNP.

“We are not claiming victory, but we are claiming success that accounts for the downward trend.

“These successes could not have been achieved without the dedicated work of our rangers, security cluster partners, other state departments and municipalities, public entities, the private sector, NGOs, donors, traditional leaders and their communities, and the public at large, as well as our regional and international partners.

“We salute all those who remain committed to ending poaching and the decimation of our wildlife. We, as government, commit to working together with our colleagues in the private sector and NGOs, and, most importantly, communities, to ensure that our wildlife is protected for generations to come,” Molewa said.