MEDIARELEASE
11 March 2007
The fight against illegal sale of protected wild life species in the NW intensifies.
Rustenburg – Following a number of complaints from members of the public regarding the illegal sale of leopard tortoises and other reptiles along the N4 road to Sun City, the Nature Conservation component of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment in the North West organized a joint operation with the SAPS’s Organized Crime Unit on the weekend of Friday (09 –11 March), during which at least 4 men were arrested.
Using surveillance cameras, the Organized Crime Unit members and officials from the department pretended to be tourists who wanted to buy tortoises from two men who were at the Beestekraal intersection along the N4 road, and managed to get one at the price of R300.00. After arresting the two sellers, the officials proceeded to the Berseba intersection where the same trap was set up. There, a young man who was also in possession of a tortoise, sold it to them at a street value price of R400.00
When asked who he was working for, the young man took SAPS officials to the house of a 66 years old man in Mamerotswe village in Phokeng, where about nine tortoises and other reptiles including snakes were found in his backyard. The two men were also arrested.Departmental officials were reliably informed that the man run an operation where the surrounding natural habitats was harvested of these protected species.
In total, eleven tortoises were confiscated in this operation, and offenders were taken to the Phokeng and Bethanie Police stations. They will tomorrow (12 March) appear before the Tlhabane and Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate Courts respectively. They were all charged with the Contravention of the provision of Nature Conservation Ordinance no. 12 of 1983, which deals with the keeping, possession, or transporting of wild animals without a valid permit.
“We intend to spread this operation throughout the province, but our main focus will be the hotspots known to our officials. We want to curb this unbecoming and criminal behaviour because it affects the reputation of our province since the sellers are targeting mainly unsuspecting tourists. We however thank everybody, especially members of the nearby communities and the tourists, both local and international, who spotted this unlawful activity and notified our officials”, expressed MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Mandlenkosi Mayisela.
Today (Sunday) more than 108 vehicles were stopped and searched at the Rustenburg N4 road, but none of them were found to be involved in illegal activities.The province is tightening its control as the visitor influx into the province continues to grow.
Ends
Issued by : DACE Corporate Communication
Contact: Ms Lesego Mncwango
018 389 5768 / 5346
082 220 6367