The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus (PDF ... - WWF

situation at the source: south africa
LAw enfoRcement in South AfRicA
National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit
A major evolution in South Africa’s law-enforcement structure occurred in early 2010 with the establishment
of an interim National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit in the Department of Environmental
Affairs. NWCRU consists of representatives from SAPS, SANParks, national and provincial nature conservation
officials, NPA, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and INTERPOL. Thus for the first time in at least a
decade, a national law-enforcement co-ordination body was put in place to operate effectively across
provincial boundaries. This development expressly recognized the marked escalation in rhino security
threats throughout the country and moved quickly to develop a national crime investigation and information
management mechanism that linked all components of the law-enforcement community
through local, provincial and national scales. Backed by strong political will, the NWCRU has sought
positive interaction and relationships with communities, private rhino owners and other stakeholders
to facilitate effective and efficient information exchange, and has attempted to secure a team of highlymotivated,
well-trained, resourced and equipped personnel (Maggs and Knight, 2010).
NWCRU have implemented an action plan aimed at mitigating the serious escalation in rhino poaching
and the illegal trade in rhino horns. Key elements of this initiative include the establishment of a national
co-ordination structure for information management, law-enforcement response, investigation and
prosecution that links the provincial conservation authorities, SANParks, SAPS, the National Prosecutors
Association and responsible private sector bodies (Maggs and Knight, 2010). An effort to
second officials from these government departments has been initiated with a view to conducting joint
operations and other law-enforcement actions, undertaking inter-departmental analysis of available intelligence
information and promoting co-operation and best practice standards for law enforcement, the
monitoring of rhinos, horn stockpiles and rhino movements nationally, especially within the private
sector. NWCRU also promoted the establishment of specialized environmental courts to ensure that the
seriousness of rhino crime is institutionalized and effectively dealt with (Maggs and Knight, 2010).
However, there were concerns that there would not be enough cases to financially justify creating a number
of these courts throughout the country. One of the aims of NWCRU has been to improve information
management and develop pro-active database structures to link crime-related information with applied
scientific research data, the national CITES permit system and other sources of available information
(S. Snelling, SANParks, pers. comm., 2010). There is little question that NRWCU has scaled up South
Africa’s national response to rhino poaching and illegal trade in rhino horn. Since its creation, a series of
high-profile law-enforcement actions have occurred which appear to have been collaborative efforts
involving a range of authorities. However, whilst these objectives work well in theory, there have been
concerns about the effectiveness of their implementation and some in the provinces are frustrated by the
perceived restricted communication of relevant NWCRU intelligence in practice.
South African Police Service
The Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI or more informally known as the “Hawks”) is a
specialized division of SAPS established primarily to prevent, combat and investigate national priority
offences. As such, DPCI focuses on serious organized crime, serious corruption and serious commercial
crimes. The Directorate is composed of a Commercial Crime Unit, Financial Investigation and Assets
Forfeiture Unit, Organised Crime Unit, the Priority Crime Management Centre and Support Services. As
rhino poaching and illegal rhino horn trade have been identified as a serious national threat, these
crimes are the responsibility of the Endangered Species Section within the Organised Crime Unit
(J. Jooste, pers. comm., 2012). SAPS has designated an Endangered Species Co-ordinator for each province
to oversee rhino crime investigations and a select team of the SAPS DPCI is now focused on rhino
poaching activities at a national level. Furthermore, a task team with provincial co-ordinators and
investigating officers has been trained in every province to investigate rhino crime scenes. Standard
Operating Procedures have been developed for the sites of rhino poaching incidents and training provided
for such situations, to ensure that investigating officers have as much information and evidence
as possible available to work with and ensure that perpetrators face prosecution.
National and provincial nature conservation officials
DEA, within the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs (formerly the Ministry of Environment
and Tourism), plays an overarching role in establishing hunting and trade policy for rhinos in South
South African game ranger protecting White Rhino.
TIM jACkSON/AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC
Africa. This is achieved through its role in implementing the National Environmental Management:
Biodiversity Act, 2004, under which the TOPS regulations are enacted. Whilst this body assesses compliance
and is in active liaison with the provincial authorities, DEA is not actively engaged in lawenforcement
action itself.
The nine provincial bodies in South Africa each have an authority responsible for wildlife conservation
and a dedicated law-enforcement unit. Within these government departments, people who have undertaken
specific training force qualifications can be appointed as Environmental Management Inspectors
(EMIs) within the Environmental Manager Inspectorate, also known informally as the “Green
Scorpions”. EMIs in each government authority are responsible for implementing the relevant terms of
NEMA. In addition, some national and provincial conservation agencies (e.g. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife,
North West Parks and Tourism Board and SANParks) have dedicated organizational committees, which
meet to discuss rhino-related issues. The only conservation law-enforcement body with a nationwide
mandate is SANParks.
National Joints Committee
In recognition of the seriousness of rhino crime, law-enforcement activities have been elevated to the
South African National Joints Committee (NatJoints). NatJoints comprises senior members of the SAPS
Organized Crime Unit, DPCI, NPA and the SANDF and is responsible for the co-ordination, joint planning
and implementation of high-priority security measures. The committee was established to address
security issues during the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and is now involved in combating rhino poaching
and illegal horn trade issues. Under “Operation Rhino”, NatJoints is now involved in investigations
and intelligence gathering of rhino cases, as well as implementing the National Strategy for the Safety
and Security of Rhinoceros and Rhino Horns in South Africa (Table 8). Within NatJoints, a Provincial
Joints (ProvJoints) structure has been established to develop appropriate pro-active and reactive
responses to rhino crimes at a smaller geographic scale.
South African National Defence Force
A striking addition to the security levels provided to rhinos in South Africa has been involvement of
the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). In August 2011, security efforts in KNP were
enhanced by the addition of 57 rangers from SANDF to help protect and monitor the 350 km of
90 the south africa – viet nam rhino horn trade nexus TRAFFIC 91