Features
7
13 May ‘13
Rhino poaching: where do we stand?
MARKO SVICEVIC We’ve all come across it at one stage or another, be it on television, in a newspaper, a pamphlet or on the radio: news that more rhinos have been poached. This ever-growing problem has seen the popularisation of campaigns involving financial aid for the conservation of these animals, nationwide awareness programmes and worldwide condemnation of the illegal trade in rhino horn. According to the World Wildlife Fund, South Africa is currently home to around 80% (roughly 21 000) of the world’s rhino population but this number is rapidly declining. On 25 April, the South African National Parks updated the number of rhinos poached since the start of 2013 to 249. According to a press release by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) published earlier this year, this means that one rhino has been lost to poaching every 11 hours since the start of the year. Mike Knight, chairperson of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission African Rhino Specialist Group, states that “well-organised and well-funded crime syndicates are continuing to feed the growing black market with rhino horn” and that the “high levels of consumption threaten to soon reverse the considerable conservation gains achieved over the last two decades.” Each year, the overall number of rhinos poached increases. Statistics for the number of rhinos killed due to poaching from the year 2000 up to 2012 can be seen in the adjacent graph. According to a recent article by Khadija Sharife
in the Le Monde diplomatique, rhino horn are valued at approximately R536 119 per kg, rivalling the street value of cocaine in the USA and nearly double the price of gold. With an average weight of seven kilograms, rhino horns can be worth as much as R3.75 million per horn. This raises the question: how much longer do we have until rhinos become extinct in the wild? Furthermore, what are the new strategies being implemented to combat the problem? When asked about the possibility of rhinos becoming extinct, chief director of communications at the Department of Environmental Affairs Albi Modise said that, “Extinction is always a possibility when a species is under threat.” However, the rhinos in South Africa are not yet threatened with extinction, since the mortality rate has not yet surpassed the birth rate. On the other hand, Modise also said that if current poaching trends continue, South Africa could see a tipping point in the rhino population from 2016, when the mortality rate is expected to surpass birth-rate figures. The department said that rhino poaching in South Africa is a serious issue and stated that 66 people have already been arrested for poaching since the beginning of 2013. It stated that several institutions are dealing with the matter. These include the South African Police Services, the National Joint Security Committee and the Rhino Issue Management. One of several anti-poaching operations that are currently under way is the use of legislation, such as stricter control over the issuing of rhinohunting permits. Applications for these permits
According to official figures from the Department of Environmental Affairs as of 25 April 2013. Infographic: Marko Svicevic
decreased from 222 in 2011 to 90 in 2012. A new bill, the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill 2011 (which is yet to be promulgated), will make provisions for persons who do not physically commit restricted acts of poaching to be found guilty of an offence. This will also allow the minister to limit the number of permits issued in order to protect certain species and to make provisions for an authority to suspend, refuse or defer a permit under certain circumstances. The bill also targets a previous loophole where non-compliant hunters could simply operate in a different province if they were refused registration in any other province. Other methods are also being adopted. For example, by studying the weather, as well as the movement of rhinos, officials at the Kruger National Park plan to create a poaching risk map. Sam Ferreira, who leads the operation and development of this plan, says that it will be a very effective means of combating poaching. By creating this map, officials will have a better idea of where rhinos are situated, which would also
serve as an indication as to where poachers would be active. Times LIVE reports that Ed Hern, owner of the Lion and Rhino Nature Reserve just outside Johannesburg, says that injecting poison into horns might protect rhinos from poaching by stopping the demand for rhino horns. “We need to try poisoning the horns with something like cyanide so when someone uses it for medicine they will die.” There are several steps, like donating to a specific organisation or charity dealing with the matter, that people can take to help. Even by only spreading the word, you can help. Make people aware of this growing problem and how they can help. Antonio Abacar, director of Limpopo National Park, said last month that the park no longer has a single rhino left out of the 300 that it had when it opened in 2002. From the time of publishing until the time when you read this article, approximately 30 rhinos will have been poached. Illustration: Simon-Kai Garvie
Losing your life: how to replace vital documents DESRÉ BARNARD Losing your driver’s licence or ID is one of the most harrowing experiences. You go through the five stages of grief: denial that you had it last – mom must have it somewhere safe – then anger because you realise you probably left it at the bar, then bargaining – if only you had actually let your mom keep it – then depression at the thought of going to replace it and finally, acceptance of your fate. You’re going to have to queue for hours alongside brothers from other mothers and sisters from other misters. Being prepared is the best way to slay dragons but sadly, all the information on the internet differs. For example, the website of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) says one thing and, you guessed it, the South African Government Services’ website says something totally different. When approaching this terra pericolosa (dangerous land), there are some fundamentals you will need – just like Bear Grylls. He always has a knife and an impressive cameraman. You won’t need a knife and if you have a cameraman that’s cool, but they won’t let him in. This isn’t MTV. The first fundamental that you will need is the patience of a saint. Secondly, you will need a companion, unless you don’t mind making friends with the line-bound sister on your right. Thirdly, hand sanitiser (this will become clearer when you see that they don’t wipe the fingerprint scanner). Lastly, you will need a black pen and some documentation. Perdeby went on an adventure to the Centurion driving licence and testing centre (DLTC) and the DHA in Centurion to find out how much money and what information and documentation you need to make the replacement of stolen or lost documents as painless as possible. First was the DHA, which is conveniently situated right outside the Centurion Gautrain station (inconveniently having moved there without changing its web page – it is now at 259 West Street).
Stolen/lost ID book At the DHA, there exists a keeper-of-the-gate. She is the holder of all knowledge and forms and she will bestow upon you that which you need. For a replacement ID document, you will get a BI-9/DHA-9 form, for which you will need two photographs, either colour or black and white. You can get your photographs taken outside the DHA in one of several makeshift studios, but this is going to cost you three times the price of going to a photography shop. If you really want to support the local business, be prepared to pay about R60 for six photographs. The ID itself will cost you R140 and it is payable only in cash. There are no card facilities or ATMs on the premises. It will take about four weeks before you can pick it up. Temporary identity certificate (TIC) For the pleasure of a TIC (valid for two months), you will need to part with R70 as well as two photographs. Again, these can be either black and white or colour, depending on which you feel
does your complexion justice. You will need to fill in a photocopied form that has no code, but the all-knowing keeper-of-the-gate will guide the way. You will get the TIC on the same day. Lost/damaged passport The most expensive of the beasts is the replacement of a stolen or damaged passport. It is here that the DHA gets pretty specific. If it has been lost or has been damaged due to negligence on your behalf (like sending it through the washing machine), replacement will cost R800, but if it wasn’t your fault (like if the staples fall out), it will cost R400. For this to happen, you will need four colour photographs, a DHA-73 form and three weeks’ patience. Stolen passport You will see that stating your passport was stolen makes the replacement cheaper, but you will need to report the theft of your passport to the police. Beware kids, lying to the police is called perjury, which is punishable by many awful things
such as your toenails being ripped out and your cat vomiting on your pillow. You could also face a fine, so rather don’t. Armed with an affidavit, R400, four colour photographs, and the DHA73 form, you will be able to replace your stolen passport and pick it up in about three weeks. Renewal of passport Emergency passports no longer exist, so if your passport has expired, sneaky getaways to Mozambique are out of the question. In order to renew your passport, you will need to bring your ID document as well as a photocopy of it, the DHA-73 form, four colour photographs and R400. Three weeks later, you will be able to recommence globetrotting. Lost/stolen driver’s and learner’s licences Perdeby also ventured to the Centurion DLTC on Nellmapius Drive. Here too exists a keeper-ofthe-gate and he/she will tell you which section of a DL1 form to fill out and will usher you into the building once satisfied that you have filled it out correctly. In order to replace either your learner’s or your driver’s, you will again need an affidavit from the police saying that it was stolen or lost, as well as three black and white photographs (sometimes they take digital photographs while you sit there, but just to be safe). You will also need your ID as well as a photocopy. Fingerprints are taken digitally (hand sanitiser necessary) and an eye test is done on-site, which is also pretty icky since they don’t wipe the headrest very well. Alternatively, you can have an eye test done at your optometrist and submit the letter of proof with your application. The temporary licences are R72 and are issued on-site, while the licences themselves will cost R228. Your new licence will be ready in about six weeks. It is perhaps wise to take some liquid nourishment for the quest, but Perdeby suggests that you try not to drink too much. We weren’t brave enough to venture into the bathrooms, but if the fingerprint scanner and eye test machine are an indication of what awaits ... ewww. Image: Hendro van der Merwe