PROGRESS REPORT RHINO POACHING Portfolio Committee Meeting 13

PROGRESS REPORT RHINO POACHING Portfolio Committee Meeting 13 November 2012

OUTLINE • Poaching statistics & Arrests • Court, Convictions and Nationals • Structure – liaison with Enforcement agencies • Impact of legislative interventions • State of the Provinces Report • Stockpile management • Conservation management interventions • Conclusion

POACHING STATISTICS 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total KNP (SANParks) 36 50 146 252 320 886 MNP (SANParks) 0 0 23 2 7 1 0 14 0 0 83 0 7 16 6 10 3 2 28 0 0 122 0 15 52 17 57 4 3 38 0 1 333 6 9 74 31 21 11 4 34 6 0 448 3 1 50 23 63 7 0 59 2 0 528 9 32 215 84 160 26 9 204 8 1 1634 GP LIM MP NW EC FS KZN WC NC TOTAL

POACHING STATISTICS (2012) Month January February March April May June July August September October November (8) TOTAL Illegal killing 29 55 74 43 34 25 49 63 62 75 34 543

ARRESTS (2010 – 2012) South Africa - Arrests KNP (KNP) MNP Gauteng (GP) Mpumalanga (MP) Eastern Cape (EC) Limpopo (LP) North West (NW) Free State (FS) KZN (KZN) Western Cape (WC) Northern Cape (NC) Total 2012 55 0 26 58 0 39 24 6 15 0 1 224 2011 82 0 16 73 2 34 21 0 4 0 0 232 2010 67 0 10 16 7 36 2 0 25 2 0 165

COURT CASES, CONVICTIONS AND NATIONALITIES

FINALIZED RHINO MATTERS FOR FEB 2011 TO MARCH 2012: Summary for Feb 2011 to March 2012: • Accused convicted: 26 • Cases in which convictions were for possession of rhino horns: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for dealing in rhino horns: 4 • Cases in which convictions were for illegal hunting of rhinos: 6 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to a fine: 8 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine: 12 • Accused acquitted in period: 7 • Cases withdrawn/struck from roll: 4

FINALIZED RHINO MATTERS FOR APRIL 2012 TO MARCH 2013: Summary for April 2012 to current: • Cases in which convictions followed: 22 • Cases withdrawn/struck from roll: 6 • Cases in which convictions were for possession of rhino horns: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for dealing in rhino horns: 5 • Cases in which convictions were for illegal hunting of rhinos: 8 • Cases in which convictions were for only the illegal possession of fire-arm or ammunition: 2 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to a fine: 11 • Cases where accused convicted and sentenced to direct imprisonment without the option of a fine: 16 • Accused convicted: 39 • Accused acquitted in period: 2

FOREIGN NATIONALS INVOLVEMENT • Of these accused there are 51 foreign nationals as follows: • • 27 Mozambique nationals 10 Vietnamese 5 Chinese 3 Thailand 3 Zimbabwean 2 Congolese 1 Malawian

CURRENT STRUCTURES DEA & PROVINCIAL CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES MINMEC NWCRU MINTECH WG 1 PEPC WG 4 MINMEC NWIMU

CURRENT STRUCTURES SECURITY FORCES JCPS Cluster ? DGs Committee NATJOINTS PRIORITY COMMITTEE: RHINO PROVJOINTS NWCRU

CURRENT NATIONAL WILDLIFE CRIME REACTION INITIATIVE/STRUCTURE Designated EMI’s Designated National Senior Prosecutor NWCRI Investigations Asset Forfeiture SARS INTERPOL 4 Specialist Support National Designated Provincial Prosecutors Provincial 5 Designated National SAPS Designated Provincial SAPS Designated EMI’s Private Landowners Private Security Threat Levels SANDF 3 2 EMI / APU Parks 1

IMPROVEMENT OF CURRENT INITIATIVE/STRUCTURE • DEA is finalising the appointment of a Wildlife Information Management Unit • Priority Committee on Rhino to meet on a monthly basis; National Operating Committee working on the review of the implementation plan for the reviewed strategy • Improved Provincial Joints communication and cooperation – regular meetings between all members and more joint operations in provinces; • Finalised the SAPS/EMI So. P implementation guidelines; • DEA part Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster • Rhino Implementation Plan Finalised

IMPACT: LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTIONS AMENDED NORMS AND STANDARDS • Hunting by Vietnamese citizens suspended awaiting finalization of inspections: February 2012 • Amended N&S came into effect: April 2012 - Thai case • Applications to hunt white rhino received per annum: YEAR NUMBER OF HUNTING APPLICATIONS 2009 111 (84 from Vietnam) 2010 166 (116 from Vietnam) 2011 222 (112 from Vietnam) 2012 82 (8 from Vietnam) • Reduction in number of applications • ? Possible link – increased poaching (2011: 448; 2012: 500+)

IMPACT: LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS PROHIBITION ON TRADE IN RHINO HORN (WITHIN SOUTH AFRICA) • Prohibition published for public participation: 8 August 2008 • Moratorium published for implementation: 3 February 2009 Significant increase in poaching (2008: 83; 2009: 122) (Feasibility Study show no evidence of linkage) • Economic recession/ Increase in disposal income in Asia Ø Legislative interventions to tighten control – increase in illegal activities? ? ?

IMPACT: OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS RESTRICTIONS ON LIVE EXPORTSTO APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE DESTINATIONS • July 2011 – MINMEC approved restrictions relating to appropriate and acceptable destinations for live export of rhinoceros. • 101 live rhino exported to Asia from 2007 – 2011 • Live rhino exports endorsed at OR Tambo from 2007 – 2012 (June 2012): 236 White rhino exported to various countries (105 to China) 2007 64 Number of live rhino exported (Permits endorsed at OR Tambo) 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 38 30 40 31 15

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Capacity PROVINCES PERMIT OFFICE Eastern Cape 13% vacancies 13 Filled posts 2 Vacant funded posts 7 contract permit officers Gauteng 13% vacancies 13 Filled posts 2 Vacant funded posts KZN 3 filled posts No vacancies ENFORCEMENT 35. 5% vacancies 29 Filled posts 16 Vacant unfunded posts 28% vacancies 10 Filled posts 4 Vacant funded posts 845 filled posts incl. game rangers 176 vacant SCIENTIFIC SERVICES No Scientific Services Unit 3 Filled posts 58 filled posts 29 vacant

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity PROVINCES PERMIT OFFICE ENFORCEMENT Mpumalanga 63% vacancies 4 Filled posts 7 Vacant unfunded posts Free State 3 Filled posts No vacant posts SCIENTIFIC SERVICES 68% vacancies 63% vacancies 28 Filled posts 21 Filled posts 57 Vacant funded posts 37 Vacant 3 Vacant unfunded posts 7% vacancies 55% vacancies 13 Filled posts 8 Filled posts 1 Vacant funded post 10 Vacant unfunded posts

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity PROVINCES PERMIT OFFICE ENFORCEMENT SCIENTIFIC SERVICES Northern Cape 57% vacancies 66% vacancies 80% 6 Filled posts 3 Filled posts 5 Filled posts 1 Vacant funded post 6 Vacant 20 Vacant 7 Vacant unfunded posts 1 Vacant funded post Western Cape 6 Filled posts 11% vacancies 7 Filled posts 24 Filled posts 3 Vacant unfunded posts

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT - Capacity Provinces Permit Office Enforcement Limpopo 39% vacancies 71 Filled posts 47 Vacant unfunded posts 16% vacancies 5 Filled posts (permit officers) 1 Vacant funded post 62% vacancies 15 Filled posts 25 Vacant unfunded posts 50% vacancies 13 Filled posts 13 Vacant funded posts North West Scientific Services 64% vacancies 10 Filled posts 18 Vacant unfunded posts 8% vacancies 11 Filled posts 1 Vacant funded posts

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources CURRENT OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR RHINO RELATED ACTIVITIES Provinces Permitting Enforcement Scientific Services Eastern Cape R 50 000 R 250 000 R 0 Gauteng R 182 000 R 250 000 R 100 000 Mpumalanga No operational budget Free State R 2, 893 million R 7, 448 million R 6, 366 (includes million(includes Compensation of of Employees)

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources CURRENT OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR RHINO RELATED ACTIVITIES Provinces Northern Cape Permitting R 0 Enforcement R 2’ 655 Kwa. Zulu-Natal R 137 512 R 113 530 641 Western Cape N/A Scientific Services R 0. 00 allocated specifically to rhino, except for rhino working group meetings (R 4 400) – form part of specialist inputs. N/A

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources CURRENT OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR RHINO RELATED ACTIVITIES Provinces Limpopo North West Permitting No budget specifically set aside for rhino related activities Enforcement No specific operational budget for rhino related activities. Scientific Services Zero – only scientific input provided into permit applications. No capacity and funding for scientific support on ecological management of protected areas and monitoring of populations. Total operational budget for the Directorate Biodiversity Management and Conservation R 18, 426, 000. Budget is not divided per sub-directorate.

STATE OF PROVINCES REPORT – Financial resources Main challenges: • Lack of transport • Costs relating to attendance of hunts / translocation – kilometres to be travelled • Limited number of officials that can attend hunts / translocations

STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT • Inspections conducted by Directorate Biodiversity Enforcement and Compliance • Secure database developed by DEA IT. Training to be provided and data to be transferred from existing sources. Specific officials in provincial conservation authorities to be trained identified. • Continued with “centralization” of government owned stocks • Privately owned stocks to be captured on national database by provincial authorities(request by pvt sector )

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS • First Draft Biodiversity Management Plan for White rhinoceros to be completed by 31 January 2013 • Black rhinoceros Biodiversity Management Plan to be signed by Minister and published in the Government Gazette for implementation (submitted to Minister for signature)

CONCLUSION The Rhino Issue Management(RIM) engagement with stakeholders resulted in recommendations on: • Safety and Security • Conservation • Commercial

THANK YOU 28