Question NW2410 to the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
28 December 2021 - NW2410
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services
1). Whether he will furnish Ms A M M Weber with a copy of the Finalised Rhino Matters Report from 2017 to 2020 with a provincial breakdown of (a) cases finalised and (b) accused persons that were (i) jailed and/or (ii) given bail and (iii) the probation date of each accused; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; 2). whether he will furnish Ms A M M Weber with a list of cases from 2008 to 2009 on the sales of white rhino according to each (a) province and (b) national park including the (i) name of the buyer, (ii) method of sale such as the veld-to-veld sales, auction and/or donation, (iii) number sold, auctioned and/or donated and (iv) price of each rhino; if not, why not in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
1) (a)(i) The provincial breakdown of the number of cases finalised during 2017 to 2020 is attached as Annexure “A”.
(b)(i) The NPA does not record rhino related prosecutions but does record the number of accused convicted, as reflected in the table on Annexure “A”
(b)(ii): The NPA does not record the number of accused released on bail involving matters of rhino prosecutions. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development does not keep such information either, but has however advised that the charge of “ Possession of an elephant tusk or a rhinoceros horn without he or she being the holder of a permit which authorizes him or her to do so” , has recently been added in the 2021/22 financial year. Therefore, the Department will not be able to report on the rhino matters for the years in question. However, in the near future, the Department would be able to supply such information.
(b)(iii): The Department of Correctional Services has further advised that their
Department does not keep information on bail granted or “ jail sentences” handed down.
2) The relevant department to respond is the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE).