STATEMENT BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, MINISTER EDNA MOLEWA, AT THE RHINO POACHING MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AT THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
04 APRIL 2012. Today as I stand before you, it is with immense dismay that I announce that the toll of rhinos poached in South Africa for 2012 has reached the alarming figure of 159, in the midst of the increased anti-poaching effort.
Kruger rhino slaughter
The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of these losses, with the rhinos poached in the park having reached a staggering total of 95. This is no longer an environmental management problem ONLY, but it has become a matter in which we have involved all law enforcement agencies. Operation Rhino continues and remains a standing agenda item of the National Joints Committee (Nat Joints Com), which comprises of senior members of SAPS Organised Crime Unit, The Hawks, NPA and the South African National Defence Force.
90 arrestsThe arrests of suspected poachers made in 2012 have reached 90 which is a milestone. The continued arrests of rhino poaching suspects is reflective of the coordinated enforcement efforts across government aimed at addressing the scourge of rhino poaching. The government does not condone the current spate of illegal rhino killings but continues to vigorously fight this scourge by implementing the interventions that we highlighted last year. We also continue to look at new initiatives that can assist us in the fight against rhino poaching.
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