Question NW2213 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
28 November 2016 - NW2213
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether she is instituting investigations into recent reports of illegal trade in endangered species allegedly taking place at the Faraday Muthi Market, in Selby, Johannesburg, where it is alleged that animal parts from endangered species such as leopard, lion, chimpanzee, hyena, pangolin and vulture are being traded illegally; if not, when will an investigation be instituted into the trade practices of the Johannesburg Muthi markets so as to ensure that they are legally compliant as regards trade in wildlife; if so, what are the full details of any such investigation?
Reply:
Nature conservation is a concurrent competence between national and provincial government and any investigation into illegal trade in endangered species allegedly taking place at the Faraday Muthi Market, in Selby, Johannesburg will have to be done by the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) which is the conservation authority responsible for law enforcement in the Gauteng Province.
However, due to increasing reports of the illegal activities occurring at various muthi markets, a national project has been included in the 2016/17 workplan of the Technical Committee of Minister and Members of Executive Council (MINTECH) Working Group IV, the national coordinating forum on environmental compliance and enforcement that is aimed at raising the awareness of traditional healers on the duties and obligations applicable to their activities in terms of the national biodiversity legislation.
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