Question NW2341 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs

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24 August 2017 - NW2341

Profile picture: Purdon, Mr RK

Purdon, Mr RK to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs

(1)With reference to the first live auction of rhino horns to take place on 21 August 2017, will local buyers of rhino horn be registered on a database with her department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) (a) what are the requirements to become a buyer of local horns and (b) what steps will her department take to restrict the buyers from (i) reselling the horns onto the black market and (ii) exporting the horns overseas through backchannels?

Reply:

(1) The buyers must only be local buyers as this is a domestic trade and international trade is not permitted. The buyers will have to apply for a permit authorising such buying during the auction in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (ACT 10 0F 2004): Threatened or Protected Species Regulations (TOPS). Only buyers who are in possession of a permit authorising the buying will be allowed to participate in the auction. The seller must have a sellers and possession permits as well. The details of the sellers, buyers and applicants are kept in a strictly managed Department’s database.

(2)(a)

  • Proof of payment of the permit processing fee
  • Certified copy of buyer’s ID or passport and a permanent residence certificate;
  • Proof of buyer’s residential address (FICA documents to verify residential address and not older than three months)
  • Certified copy of seller’s permit
  • Details of the rhino horn intended to be bought including.

o Photographs of good quality of the individual horns

o ZA horn identification numbers

o Micro-chip numbers

  • Number of specimens to be bought/received;
  • Reference number of the Genetic Profiling Certificate of each horn to be bought/received
  • Place of safekeeping (How will the horn be stored to prevent it from being stolen/lost)

(b)(i) and (ii) The Department is working closely with the South African Police Services (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS), Defence, Military Veterans, State Security Agency, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, National Prosecuting Authority, Correctional Services, alongside the, SANParks and provincial conservation authorities and other stakeholders to implement the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros Approach, which is focused on the protection of rhino;

  • The Approach has, in the past year, delivered a number of successes. The mechanisms being utilized in terms of the Integrated Strategic Management Approach is also being applied with regard to other wildlife crime like in a case of elephants;
  • South African authorities have improved their ability to track the movement of rhino horn through the implementation of a national database and systems relating to the marking of rhino horn and genetic profiling;
  • The Department have further improved its detection ability at ports of entry and exit by increasing awareness, human capacity, technology and skills. This is evident in the increased number of confiscations, arrests and convictions.
  • The Department’s Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) as well as those of the provincial conservation departments will continue to monitor compliance with the relevant regulations and requirements.

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