Africa Wild

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF PANGOLIN

Report by Save the Beasts Stop the Slaughter

A South African government official and another suspect have been arrested and charged for the illegal possession of a pangolin, a CITES 1 listed and protected species.

Acting on Crime Intelligence information that that the suspects were in possession of a pangolin without a permit, members of the Limpopo Endangered Species and Stock Theft Unit together with a joint police task team flagged down and arrested the suspects last Sunday at the Hammanskraal turnoff, Pienaarsrivier, between Pretoria and Bela Bela.

The pangolin was found in the back of a red BMW vehicle owned and driven by accused # 1, Zwiitwaho Ian Maphiri, 45 years old.

It has been confirmed that Maphiri is employed by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as its Deputy Director of Corporate Communications.

Accused # 2, Vele Ravura, 30 years old is purported to be a self-employed builder in the Makone-Thohoyandou area.

Both accused were charged and remanded in custody pending formal bail applications.

They are scheduled to appear in Bela Bela District court tomorrow for their bail applications..

Confirming details of the arrest and Maphiri’s employment by the provincial department, spokesperson for the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mushu Musopulogo, said:

”I’m sure you know when something is in the hands of law enforcement, there’s nothing I can say, until they give us feedback.

“The HOD and the MEC are aware, but not officially. I need to consult before I talk to the media. This issue is in the police’s hands, so there is nothing more we can say as the department. Everything is in the hands of the police at this stage”.

The pangolin was handed over to the African Pangolin Working Group for rehabilitation and release.

'Children are paid for poaching, and they are paid in the currency of drugs'
14 August 2019 6:42 AM

Western Cape Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz has received a report from the Western cape Ombudsman JJ Brand looking into the poaching of abalone and including the complaint of poor response from police in this regard.

The report looked into the issues that are being experienced in the Gansbaai, Kleinmond, Hermanus and Stanford areas

MEC Fritz speaks to Kieno Kammies about the report which highlights the poor response of authorities.

- "The report completely substantiates our complaint that there is a huge inefficiency in the way the police operate, but also that there is a lack of resources in terms of policing, boots on the ground and vehicles."

— Albert Fritz, Community Safety MEC - Western Cape Government

The report on the Overberg area is a microcosm of the bigger problem in the province at large, he adds.

He says despite poaching playing an enormous role in that area, it is still only classified as a category B crime, despite it being part of serious organised crime in South Africa.

" In that area, children are paid for poaching, and they are paid in the currency of drugs."

— Albert Fritz, Community Safety MEC - Western Cape Government

He acknowledges the decline in fishing quotas has led local fishermen to resort to poaching, crime and drugs.

Many gangsters have left Cape Town and are living in the Overberg area, says Fritz.

He suggests an environmental court for the area to deal with the abalone cases and also change the poaching to a category A crime.



http://www.702.co.za/articles/357695/ch ... y-of-drugs?

Terrible

Police and justice are far behind

THAT'S JUST CRIMINAL: COPS STEAL POACHED ABALONE

Kaylynn Palm | 16.09.2019

CAPE TOWN - Three policemen are expected in court on Monday for armed robbery, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.

The officers were arrested last week.

It is alleged that the members pulled over a minibus taxi in Somerset West which was transporting poached abalone from Hermanus to Cape Town. One of the officers then allegedly stole the perlemoen.

The incident occurred in June.

The police’s Andre Traut said: “Three constables attached to the major offences reaction team are due in court in Somerset West after a complaint was lodged with police. The members were arrested following an investigation.”

They have taken their time

What happens to seized abalone usually, you can not stockpile, so what is the policy?

But who lodged the complaint

The criminals who originally stole the abalone

This is just sick

The seized abalone is sold to legitimate farmers, I think.

Prince Harry’s visit to Kalk Bay puts the spotlight on abalone poaching

24.9.2019 07:21 pm

Last week the City of Cape Town also launched three new custom-designed boats in an attempt to help save and protect marine life.

In August 2018, the UK Ministry of Defence deployed a UK Military short-term training team to work with the Cape Town Maritime Police Unit (MPU) to improve their boat handling skills, confidence on the water, and operational effectiveness.

The Duke of Sussex, who was appointed Captain General Royal Marines in December 2017 by Her Majesty the Queen, met with the team in Kalk Bay on Tuesday during his royal tour to South Africa.

Since the UK Military’s deployment, the MPU have detained a number of abalone smugglers in the Cape Town area who were operating at night.

Harry then travelled out to sea in the direction of Seal Island, an abalone poaching hot spot, to find out how the Royal Marine training has benefitted the MPU and received further updates on recent seizures and arrests made in the area.

Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, provided the royal with broader context on the illegal wildlife poaching.

Harry paused for a group photo before departing to his next engagement.

Last week the City of Cape Town also launched three new custom-designed boats in an attempt to help save and protect marine life.

After the launch, the multimillion-rand inflatable vessels underwent a two-hour-long test at the Ocean Power Boat Club in Green Point. The marine and environmental law enforcement unit now has eight rubber ducks in their fleet of watercrafts.