Picture: The rhino horns/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said they welcome the arrest of one of the individuals involved in the theft of 51 rhino horns. DA Shadow Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Dave Bryant who is also a Member of Parliament (MP) said, the highly publicised theft case has laid bare the lack of security measures to protect rhino horn stockpiles.
In the early hours of Monday, 26 June 2023, 51 rhino horns were allegedly stolen at the North West Parks Board premises in Mahikeng after a break-in. A man (40) has since been arrested by the Hawks at Boitekong in Rustenburg.
Bryant said the DA remains committed to working tirelessly to bring justice to this matter. He further said urgent action is still required to retrieve the stolen horns, which remain at large.
“Our efforts in publicly highlighting the case precipitated the swift action in this investigation, which we do not believe would have been undertaken without our calls for action and accountability. However, numerous questions remain over the efficacy of the security measures used to safeguard our rhino horn stockpiles and the internal controls.
“We acknowledge the role our collective efforts play in safeguarding our wildlife and will continue to put pressure on the authorities to maintain transparency and accountability in these matters. We call upon Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Barbara Creecy to provide clarity on the auditing procedures that were in place prior to the theft,” he said.
Bryant added that, was there an accurate count of the number of horns in safekeeping before this incident? He said they also want to know if a thorough audit has been conducted to confirm that indeed, only 51 horns were stolen.
“These are important questions that require answers, not just for the sake of transparency but to ensure the rectification of any procedural weaknesses. The theft of rhino horns fuels the illegal trade and contributes to the demise of a species already under severe threat.
“At present, there are many unanswered questions, for Creecy needs to account. We remain committed to working tirelessly to bring about the highest level of transparency, accountability, and justice in this matter,” said Bryant.
Meanwhile, the Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Tinyiko Mathebula said: “The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation assisted by the Rustenburg Public Order Policing and Crime Intelligence, arrested a 40-year-old man in Rustenburg on 29 June 2023, for alleged theft of 51 rhino horns.
“Five vehicles, believed to have been used in the commission of the crime, a Range Rover, Land Rover, BMW, Nissan X-Trail and Honda Civic were confiscated for further investigation. The accused, facing a charge of business burglary, appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on 3 July 2023.”
The Guardian 