Latest news with #NationalIntegratedStrategytoCombatWildlifeTrafficking
The South African
6 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
New strategy to help save Kruger National Park's white rhinos
Government has launched a strategy that seeks to rebuild the Kruger National Park's white rhino population from just over 2 000 to 12 000 within the next decade by using technology. Government aims to monitor rhino herds daily using drones, GPS collars, and digital reporting systems to provide real-time data to enforcement teams. 'Starting this year, 90 Rhino Monitors will be trained and deployed annually across Kruger National Park. They are not just protecting rhino. They are protecting livelihoods, family legacies, and the possibility of green jobs for a generation to come,' Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Dr Dion George said. The Minister made these remarks during the official launch of the Rhino Renaissance Campaign at the Kruger National Park, which is grounded on 24/7 rhino tracking; biological management such as targeted dehorning; DNA tagging and genetic research; enforcement cooperation across provincial, national, and regional levels and, critically, resource mobilisation to sustain operations over the long term. With South Africa currently hosting the Group Twenty (G20) Presidency, this campaign has been adopted as a G20 Legacy Project to rally global support, both diplomatic and financial, to scale this work. South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, which runs to 30 November 2025, under the theme: 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability'. 'This work does not stand alone. We are fighting wildlife crime on every front. Our National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking is anchored in the Medium-Term Development Plan, the country's roadmap for the next five years. 'This strategy brings together key government departments – including my department, Police, Justice, Border Management, Intelligence, [the] South African National Parks (SANParks) and the provincial conservation entities – in a united, multidisciplinary response. It also builds strong partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and communities on the ground,' George explained. Fighting wildlife crime is one of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's six core priorities. 'At its heart is a commitment to a fair and sustainable future – one where our iconic wildlife supports livelihoods, uplifts communities, and strengthens our national identity. 'The Rhino Renaissance Campaign is a vital part of this effort. It supports our vision of a fair industry for lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinos – a future where these species are not only protected but thrive alongside the people who live among them. 'No country or sector can tackle this threat alone. South Africa is building strong enforcement networks across borders and finalising agreements with rhino horn destination countries,' the Minister said. Government is engaging partners such as Interpol, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) neighbours to strengthen intelligence-sharing and cross-border cooperation. South Africa's response goes beyond law enforcement. It includes financial intelligence, anti-corruption efforts, and international diplomacy- because wildlife crime is deeply embedded in global criminal networks. As of the end of June, 195 rhinos had been poached across South Africa this year – a reduction of 35 compared to the same period in 2024. 'While any loss is too many, this decrease signals that our intensified enforcement efforts are starting to have an effect. June recorded the lowest monthly poaching figures so far this year, with 22 rhinos killed nationwide. Here in the Kruger, which is still a primary target for poachers, we lost 11 rhinos in both May and June, down from 17 in January and 30 in February. 'These numbers are a stark reminder that the threat remains real and unrelenting. But they also show that progress is possible. Our rangers, enforcement teams, and intelligence units continue to work tirelessly on the front lines to protect our wildlife and hold the line,' the Minister said. Through rhino dehorning, South Africa removes the reasons rhinos are being killed in the first place. 'Dehorning does not harm the animal. It saves its life. It buys us time – to restore numbers, upgrade security, and disrupt demand,' he explained. The country is already seeing green shoots which include the relocation of 2 000 rhinos from African Parks to safe havens across the country; Munyawana Conservancy and others are growing populations through rewilding; cross-border work is underway in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and across the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area. Safe havens have been identified in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Botswana and collaboration between government and private wildlife owners in the Integrated Wildlife Zones has been enhanced. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Star
21-05-2025
- The Star
South Africa ramps up efforts to combat environmental and organised crime
Environmental crimes severely endanger South Africa's ecosystems, economy, and communities. To address this increasing threat, strategies focusing on stronger law enforcement and increased global collaboration have been adopted. At the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, SAPS social crime prevention head Major-General Thokozani Mathonsi shared the country's experiences with addressing new, emerging and evolving forms of crime, including crimes that affect the environment, smuggling of commercial goods and trafficking in cultural property, and other crimes targeting cultural property. Mathonsi said wildlife poaching and trafficking, marine and coastal offences, destruction of protected areas, and illegal mining of precious metals have major negative impacts across ecological, economic, social, and security sectors. Effective law enforcement against these crimes requires adequate resources and enhanced collaboration to improve detection and prosecution. 'To address this challenge, South Africa established the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre (EEFC), which analyses data sets and provides critical evidence, including information retrieved from seized electronic devices. The National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT) enhances law enforcement and prosecution collaboration,' Mathonsi said. He said that for South Africa, crimes affecting the environment constitute serious criminal offences and require cooperation among all Member States. In this context, South Africa looks forward to the intergovernmental expert group (IEG) on crimes that affect the environment to identify gaps in the current international legal framework and explore the merits of developing an additional protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC). Mathonsi said South Africa is experiencing a significant increase in counterfeit goods, including clothing, liquor, cigarettes, and medicines. This poses a threat to the sustainability of the country's industries. 'To combat this crime, smuggled goods and misdeclared goods should be forfeited and destroyed,' he said. South Africa continues to struggle with cross-border organised fraud, compounded by the emergence of new technologies, making organised fraud detection difficult. 'To combat these crimes, we have adopted a legislative framework to ensure that mechanisms for the seizure and confiscation of assets related to organised fraud are effectively implemented. The police can apply for property preservation orders and asset forfeiture orders,' Mathonsi said. He stated that South Africa's enhanced collaboration between governments and financial institutions at bilateral and regional levels has improved the identification and disruption of organised fraudulent financial transactions through strengthened information sharing. He said a growing threat to criminal justice was the evolution of cybercrime, including artificial intelligence. Addressing this threat demands advanced resources and digital tools frequently lacking in developing nations. 'Member States should strengthen international cooperation by harmonising and aligning their national cybercrime legal frameworks to effectively counter cybercrime. The adoption of the first UN-based legally binding instrument on countering cybercrime would greatly enhance the fight against transnational organised crime and advance international cooperation in eliminating this growing threat.' He reported a rise in extortion-related crimes, like the construction mafia in South Africa. 'Law enforcement agencies have deployed additional capacity to clamp down on extortionists and gangs and established a multi-disciplinary team to investigate and arrest those behind incidents of gang violence and extortion.' Mathonsi added that to effectively combat crime, the police, community, and business sector must collaborate, recognising that it is a shared responsibility. An Interpol representative said the organisation developed a range of capabilities to combat environmental crimes: Interpol deploys global operations to address the transnational nature of crimes that affect the environment. Interpol-supported investigations help countries address the problem of illegal waste export and pollution crime. Interpol's secure I-24/7 communication system is being upgraded to Nexus for faster, structured global information exchange among law enforcement. It will enhance operational cooperation and handling of urgent requests related to financial crime, corruption, and environmental offences. [email protected]
IOL News
21-05-2025
- IOL News
South Africa ramps up efforts to combat environmental and organised crime
SAPS social crime prevention head Major-General Thokozani Mathonsi (back) shared how South Africa is tackling the rising threat of environmental crime through enhanced law enforcement, international cooperation, and innovative strategies at the UN Commission on Crime Prevention. Image: Screenshot Environmental crimes severely endanger South Africa's ecosystems, economy, and communities. To address this increasing threat, strategies focusing on stronger law enforcement and increased global collaboration have been adopted. At the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, SAPS social crime prevention head Major-General Thokozani Mathonsi shared the country's experiences with addressing new, emerging and evolving forms of crime, including crimes that affect the environment, smuggling of commercial goods and trafficking in cultural property, and other crimes targeting cultural property. Mathonsi said wildlife poaching and trafficking, marine and coastal offences, destruction of protected areas, and illegal mining of precious metals have major negative impacts across ecological, economic, social, and security sectors. Effective law enforcement against these crimes requires adequate resources and enhanced collaboration to improve detection and prosecution. 'To address this challenge, South Africa established the Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre (EEFC), which analyses data sets and provides critical evidence, including information retrieved from seized electronic devices. The National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT) enhances law enforcement and prosecution collaboration,' Mathonsi said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said that for South Africa, crimes affecting the environment constitute serious criminal offences and require cooperation among all Member States. In this context, South Africa looks forward to the intergovernmental expert group (IEG) on crimes that affect the environment to identify gaps in the current international legal framework and explore the merits of developing an additional protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC). Mathonsi said South Africa is experiencing a significant increase in counterfeit goods, including clothing, liquor, cigarettes, and medicines. This poses a threat to the sustainability of the country's industries. 'To combat this crime, smuggled goods and misdeclared goods should be forfeited and destroyed,' he said. South Africa continues to struggle with cross-border organised fraud, compounded by the emergence of new technologies, making organised fraud detection difficult. 'To combat these crimes, we have adopted a legislative framework to ensure that mechanisms for the seizure and confiscation of assets related to organised fraud are effectively implemented. The police can apply for property preservation orders and asset forfeiture orders,' Mathonsi said. He stated that South Africa's enhanced collaboration between governments and financial institutions at bilateral and regional levels has improved the identification and disruption of organised fraudulent financial transactions through strengthened information sharing. He said a growing threat to criminal justice was the evolution of cybercrime, including artificial intelligence. Addressing this threat demands advanced resources and digital tools frequently lacking in developing nations. 'Member States should strengthen international cooperation by harmonising and aligning their national cybercrime legal frameworks to effectively counter cybercrime. The adoption of the first UN-based legally binding instrument on countering cybercrime would greatly enhance the fight against transnational organised crime and advance international cooperation in eliminating this growing threat.' He reported a rise in extortion-related crimes, like the construction mafia in South Africa. 'Law enforcement agencies have deployed additional capacity to clamp down on extortionists and gangs and established a multi-disciplinary team to investigate and arrest those behind incidents of gang violence and extortion.' Mathonsi added that to effectively combat crime, the police, community, and business sector must collaborate, recognising that it is a shared responsibility. An Interpol representative said the organisation developed a range of capabilities to combat environmental crimes: Interpol deploys global operations to address the transnational nature of crimes that affect the environment. Interpol-supported investigations help countries address the problem of illegal waste export and pollution crime. Interpol's secure I-24/7 communication system is being upgraded to Nexus for faster, structured global information exchange among law enforcement. It will enhance operational cooperation and handling of urgent requests related to financial crime, corruption, and environmental offences.
