News

Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister, Barbara Creecy, has paid tribute to field rangers for the incredible work they do daily to keep National Parks and the country’s iconic species safe.

“In the battle to conserve our wildlife and halt poaching, it is our rangers who remain at the forefront, putting their lives on the line daily to conserve our environment and vulnerable species, despite the additional risk of contracting COVID-19,” Creecy said.

In commemoration of World Ranger Day on Saturday, Creecy also paid tribute to 11 staff members at South African National Parks (SANParks), who lost their lives to COVID-19 over the past year.

“We find ourselves in a position where the efforts being made to combat wildlife crime, such as rhino poaching, are influenced to some extent by the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the battle to beat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We also want to remember Field Ranger Checkers Mashego, whose lifeless body was discovered at the Kruger Park late last year. May the souls of all our SANParks staff and field rangers rest in peace after serving our nation with diligence and passion,” Creecy said.

She noted that while the national lockdowns that curbed the movement of people to halt the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 contributed to a decrease in rhino poaching, the lifting of the stringent lockdown regulations appears to have seen an increase in rhino poaching in the first six months of 2021.

Over 200 rhino poached

“From January to the end of June 2021, a total of 249 rhino have been poached for their horns in South Africa. While this is higher than the number of rhino killed for their horns in the same period last year at 166, it is less than the 318 rhino that were poached in the first six months of 2019.

“During the six months, January to June 2021, the Kruger National Park experienced 715 poacher activities, an increase of 3.77% in comparison to the number in 2020, which was 689 for the same period. From January to end of June 2021, a total of 132 rhino were poached for their horns in the Kruger National Park. One elephant was poached for its ivory in the Kruger National Park during this period,” Creecy said.

A number of successful arrests and prosecutions has also been recorded in the past six months, underscoring the success of the collaborative work being done by law enforcement agencies.

These include the police, the Hawks, South African National Parks (SANParks), the Environmental Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions), customs officials, South African National Defence Force (SANDF), provincial park authorities, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Over 100 arrested for rhino poaching, rhino horn trafficking

From January to June 2021, the Minister said 40 alleged poachers were arrested within the Kruger National Park, with a total of 125 people having been arrested for rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking across the country in the same period.

Creecy said numerous confiscations of rhino horn have also taken place since January, both within the country as well as at OR Tambo International Airport.

“The cohesive partnership with the South East Asian countries is also showing concrete results, with the recent collaboration between South African and Vietnamese authorities resulting in one of the largest seizures of rhino horns and other wildlife products, thereby disrupting syndicate activities. A total of 14 cases have been finalised since the start of the year with a verdict, representing a 93% conviction rate.

“The total of 14 convictions represented 20 convicted accused. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the finalisation rate in courts has slowed down as witnesses, accused and court staff in many instances are required to isolate or quarantine, and even court buildings in some instances need to be decontaminated. This has had an effect on the finalisation of cases.

“It is clear that the multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to investigating illegal wildlife trade is bearing fruit and that effective collaboration with critical role players remains key to our success. I congratulate the teams on a job well done,” Creecy said.

Creecy said the department, working with a number of communities, NGOs and donors, continues with various community developmental programmes, in collaboration with its partners, SANParks, provinces and neighbouring countries.

“Noticeable increased poacher pressure has been experienced in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Free State provinces. The department is also monitoring the increased pressure seen on private rhino reserves and is collaborating closely with the private sector, which continues to play a significant role in rhino protection.”

Members of the public can report any suspicious activities around wildlife to the environmental crime hotline 0800 205 005, or the SAPS number 10111. – SAnews.gov.za

SARAH BAARTMAN – Partnership policing led to the arrest of three men for damaging, or destroying the essential infrastructure, and recovery of copper cables worth over R 3 000-00 in Addo last night.

On Wednesday evening, 21 July 2021, Addo police in partnership with a private security company were involved in an operation to combat theft of copper cables along the railway lines. The use of technological monitoring equipment led to the arrest of three suspects and the recovery of two cable bundles worth R 3 500-00. Police also seized a vehicle for further investigation.

The three men aged between 18 and 28 will appear in the Kirkwood Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 26 July 2021 for charges relating to the contravention of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18 of 2015.

Acting Sarah Baartman District Commissioner, Brigadier John Lebok commended the team for the good work and also issued a warning. “People need to be aware that any person who is found guilty for this offence may be sentenced to imprisonment for a period of up to 30 years, or in the case of a company a fine not exceeding R100 million. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that it addresses high incidence of crimes affecting service delivery to the public, for example theft of cables, added Brig Lebok.

Dear Gqeberha

Drunk drivers from Kirkwood and surrounds, who put themselves and others in harms way, are being let off the hook because the Kirkwood Police Station doesn’t have valid blood test kits to test blood alcohol levels.

The test kits that are currently available at the Kirkwood Police Station have expired, and it is unclear when or if the station will receive additional kits.

The Kirkwood Police Station covers the areas of Aquapark, Bergsig, Moses Mabida and surrounding rural farming communities.

Earlier this week, DA Councillor Karen Smith conducted an oversight inspection at the Kirkwood Police Station, where she saw the expired test kits.

I have since escalated this issue to the DA EC Shadow MEC for Safety and Security, Bobby Stevenson, MPL, who will be submitting questions to the Community Safety MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe.

It is unthinkable that the SAPS are being forced to operate without the necessary tools of trade. Criminals, whose irresponsible actions could cost innocent lives, are able to escape prosecution, because of this.

I will continue to raise the concerns of residents with provincial structures to ensure that police personnel are supplied with the resources they need to do to their jobs effectively.

The Democratic Alliance has clearly demonstrated that it gets things done, and knows how to look after the safety and security of residents.

Where the DA governs it gets things done, and in the upcoming 2021 Local Elections residents can vote for this change and get the caring and competent government they deserve.

Regards

Edmund van Vuuren, MPL
Zuurberg Constituency Leader

EASTERN CAPE – An off-duty police Sergeant as well as three alleged business robbers were shot and wounded on Sunday evening, 04 July 2021, in Addo.

On Sunday, 04 July 2021 at about 19:00, it is alleged that at least three men wearing face masks, two armed with firearms stormed into a shop in Duka Street, Nomathansanqa area, Addo. The two armed with firearms held owner, assistants and customers at gunpoint, while a third suspect stole cellphones and cash from a cash register. An off-duty police Sergeant that was not far away from the shop, heard the commotion and tactically approached the scene. As the three men were fleeing the scene, a shoot-out ensued between a police official and the suspects. One of the suspects (28) was wounded and arrested at the scene. Police also confiscated a 9mm pistol with a live ammunition for further investigation.

On Monday morning, 5 July 2021, police received a call from Kirkwood Hospital after two men arrived with gunshot wounds. The two men aged 22 and 24 were positively linked to a business robbery in Addo, and were both arrested. The investigation led to the arrest of the fourth suspect on Tuesday, 6 July 2021 at his workplace in Addo. All four suspects aged between 22 and 28, from Mqanduli are due to appear in the Addo Magistrate’s Court on charges of business robbery. There is a possibility of additional charges at the later stage of the investigation.

On behalf of the Acting District Commissioner, Colonel Simon Swarts commended the off-duty Sergeant from the Port Elizabeth Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) for his heroic action. “The thorough investigation that followed ensured that the three outstanding suspects were arrested,” added Col Swarts.

In a separate incident, a 33-year-old man was arrested after it was alleged that he attempted to rob a store with a toy gun in Jeffreys Bay this morning. It is said that the man who initially posed as a customer entered a store in Jeffreys Street, Jeffreys Bay and bought cigarettes and thereafter left.

It is further said that moments later, the same man stormed into the store with a firearm and held an owner at gunpoint. An alert owner on seeing that a firearm was not firing every time a suspect was pulling a trigger, he decided to fight him. A struggle ensued and with the assistance of a security guard, a suspect was arrested. A man is due to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 July 2021 on charges of attempted business robbery.