Pretoria - Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa has presented a progress report on the department’s work on fighting wildlife crime, including the illegal killing of and illegal trade in wildlife to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs.
“The Minister also briefed the committee on the Terms of Reference and composition of the Committee of Inquiry appointed to evaluate existing measures to combat rhino poaching and evaluate additional, supplementary measures, including the possibility of a legal trade in rhino horn…” Department of Environmental Affairs spokesperson Albi Modise said.
As the country celebrated World Wildlife Day on Tuesday, Minister Molewa paid tribute to the renowned environmentalist, the late Professor Wangaari Mathai.
She initiated the countrywide celebrations of World Wildlife Day, which were marked by a community event and a live broadcast carried by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
The theme for this year’s World Wildlife Day is “Wildlife Crime is Serious; let's be serious against wildlife crime”.
Minister Molewa reiterated the departments’ commitment to address issues of rhino poaching through action such as coordinated actions of the Green Scorpions, national training programmes for Green Scorpions, prosecutors, customs and other port officials.
Other steps which the department will take included regional and international engagements on wildlife crime matters.
Minister Molewa also clarified matters relating to the Committee of Inquiry which will probe the possibility of the trade of rhino horn.
“The names of the members as well as the Terms of Reference were provided to the Portfolio Committee.
"The Minister re-emphasized that the possibility of trade or not will be considered by the Committee of Inquiry in the context of the government’s Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros,” Modise said.
He said the Portfolio Committee was informed that pre-screening on all members of the Committee of Inquiry had been completed.
“A request has been submitted for further full vetting, which takes longer than the pre-screening process,” Modise said. – SAnews.gov.za
