Question NW658 to the Minister of Police
02 May 2018 - NW658
Carter, Ms D to ask the Minister of Police
(1} What number of (a} SA Police Service (SAPS) officers worked in anti-rhino poaching units across the country (i) in each of the past three financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2017 and (b) the specified SAPS officers were (i) criminally charged, (ii) convicted and/or (iii) dismissed from the SAPS for offences relating to rhino poaching; (2) what number of SAPS officers not stationed in anti-rhino poaching units were (a) criminally charged, (b) convicted and/or (c) dismissed from the SAPS for offences relating to rhino poaching in the same period?
Reply:
(1 )(a)(i)(ii)
The South African Police Service (SAPS) does not have any antirhino poaching units. There are, however, trair:ied members attached to the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units, who are responsible for all matters relating to rhino poaching in the Republic of South Africa.
There are 90 Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units and 22 satellite units, which are responsible for the investigation of all cases of Endangered Species, including rhino poaching and related crimes. The details are as follows:
|
Province |
Number of units |
Number of Satellite Units |
Number of members 2015-03-31 |
Number of members 2016-03-31 |
Number of members 2017-03-31 |
Number of members 2018-03-31 |
|
Eastern Cape |
22 |
8 |
217 |
214 |
238 |
343 |
|
Free State |
11 |
1 |
129 |
122 |
122 |
172 |
|
Gauteng |
2 |
0 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
20 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
16 |
3 |
259 |
247 |
232 |
284 |
|
Limpopo |
8 |
8 |
75 |
77 |
82 |
80 |
|
Mpumalanga |
11 |
1 |
97 |
96 |
102 |
116 |
|
North West |
7 |
1 |
97 |
89 |
83 |
95 |
|
Northern Cape |
7 |
0 |
61 |
59 |
55 |
72 |
|
Western Cape |
6 |
0 |
57 |
62 |
71 |
61 |
|
TOTAL |
90 |
22 |
1002 |
973 |
992 |
1243 |
Find here: (1)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)