1. Yes, the South African Police Service (SAPS), considers rhino poaching to be a priority crime, due to the constant escalation of rhino poaching incidents, since 2010.
Wildlife trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime, has a negative impact on the economic development of the country and job creation, including the development of the country’s bio-diverse economy, which incorporates the tourism sector.
Wildlife trafficking is hampering the government’s ability to ensure socio-economic development, as organised crime syndicates and activities have become embedded in communities, across the country.
President Zuma declared rhino poaching to be a national security threat, in 2011. This led to the threat being attended to by the National Joint Operational Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which is the operational arm of the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster of Government.
The JOINTS established National and Provincial Priority Committees, in terms of the NATJOINTS Instruction, 3 of 2011. The purpose of this NATJOINTS Instruction, was to sensitise all provinces about this threat and coordinate the response, by establishing and activating National and Provincial Priority Committees to manage, implement and coordinate all joint integrated actions, as well as the efforts to curb rhino poaching and illegal hunting.
In 2012, the NATJOINTS initiated and conducted national interventions in the Kruger National Park, which was and still is affected significantly, by illegal rhino poaching. In support of provincial activities, Cabinet approved the Integrated Strategic Management Approach, to rhino poaching.
In April 2015, rhino poaching was declared a priority crime of the SAPS, by the Minister of Police. The Joint Operation Centre (JOC), was officially launched by President Zuma, in November 2015. It comprises of the following role-players: the SAPS, South African National Parks, the Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African National Defence Force, Ezemvelo, the South African Revenue Services (Customs) and the State Security Agency.
In 2014, the NATJOINTS initiated and developed the draft National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT), which is police-led and intelligence informed, with multi-agency support and has the following objectives:
A five pillar operational plan was introduced to address the objectives, as contained in the NISCWT, which is currently implemented in the provinces most affected, through Operation Rhino, i.e. Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Operation Rhino is a multi-disciplinary, integrated operation, which is coordinated from the Mission Area Joint Operations Centre (MAJOC), in Skukuza, and comprises of three Tactical Joint Operations Centres (TacJOC`s), in Acornhoek, Hluhluwe and Phalaborwa, to address the five pillar operational plan.
The following is a breakdown of the five pillar operational plan:
Pillar 1: Intelligence gathering, coordination and analysis:
Pillar 2: Proactive approach:
Pillar 3: Combat approach:
Pillar 4: Reactive through detection:
Pillar 5: Communication and liaison:
(2)(a) The response by the SAPS, together with other role-players, was to deploy the following resources:
(2)(a)(i)(aa)
2014 |
|
SAPS Disciplines |
Deployment Number |
Special Task Force |
40 |
National Intervention Unit |
15 |
Operational Support |
04 |
Air Support |
04 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT |
63 |
(2)(a)(i)(bb)
2015 |
|
SAPS Disciplines |
Deployment Number |
Special Task Force |
73 |
National Intervention Unit |
202 |
Tactical Response Team |
25 |
Tracing Team |
21 |
Forensic Services |
13 |
Operational Support |
57 |
Crime Intelligence Gatherer |
48 |
Air Support |
12 |
Canine Unit |
31 |
Detectives |
26 |
Analysts |
20 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT |
528 |
(2)(a)(i)(cc)
2016 |
|
SAPS Disciplines |
Deployment Number |
Special Task Force |
31 |
National Intervention Unit |
406 |
Tactical Response Team |
183 |
Detective Services |
119 |
Forensic Services |
89 |
Operational Support |
138 |
Crime Intelligence Gatherer |
120 |
Analysts |
78 |
Canine Unit |
82 |
Tracking Team |
03 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT |
1 249 |
(2)(a)(ii)
Since 1 January 2017 |
|
SAPS Disciplines |
Deployment Number |
National Intervention Unit |
160 |
Tactical Response Team |
98 |
Detective Services |
81 |
Forensic Services |
47 |
Operational Support |
64 |
Crime Intelligence Gatherer |
62 |
Analysts |
23 |
Canine Unit |
67 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT |
602 |
(2)(b)
Number of arrests |
||
Year |
Cases |
Arrests |
2014 |
565 |
108 |
2015 |
929 |
169 |
2016 |
1 070 |
530 |
1 January to July 2017 |
465 |
249 |
TOTAL/AVERAGE DEPLOYMENT |
3 029 |
1 056 |
(3) There are 90 Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units and 22 satellite units, which are responsible for the investigation of all cases, which are related to endangered species, including rhino poaching and related crimes.
(3)(a) These units are situated as follows:
Province |
Number of units |
Number of satellite units |
Eastern Cape |
22 |
8 |
Free State |
11 |
1 |
Gauteng |
2 |
0 |
KwaZulu-Natal |
16 |
3 |
Limpopo |
8 |
8 |
Mpumalanga |
11 |
1 |
North West |
7 |
1 |
Northern Cape |
7 |
0 |
Western Cape |
6 |
0 |
TOTAL |
90 |
22 |
(3)(b) No further relevant details, in this regard.