Rhino activists issue SA boycott ultimatum

CONSERVATION activists have threatened to push for a global boycott on SA products if the government does not immediately stop all trade in rhino horn.

In a petition delivered to the Presidency in Pretoria yesterday, they also demanded the destruction of the state’s rhino horn stockpiles within 60 days.

Concern over the unabated killing of rhinos was spreading beyond SA borders, said Marianne du Plessis, a director of the non-profit body Section 24 Rights Coalition.

“Not only us, the people represented here, the international community is deeply concerned with the ongoing killing of our animals,” she told reporters.

“The concern also centres around our government’s lack of a strong will to stop the problem.” Du Plessis said Section 24 of the constitution dealt with “the protection of the environment for the benefit of present and future generations”, but that there had been inadequate implementation of those dictates in the country.

“We have gathered more than 22 000 signatures in this petition from SA communities and other countries across the world. Government has 60 days to turn around the situation or we call for drastic action, including a boycott.”

The international mobilisation of a boycott on local goods would affect agriculture, tourism and service provision sectors of the government.

Du Plessis said her organisation enjoyed the support of numerous international partners, such as the International Animal Rescue Foundation, an umbrella network of institutions that advocate for nature preservation and humanitarian relief.

The activists burnt a model wooden rhino horn at the Union Buildings in a symbolic act intended to convince the government to destroy its horn stockpiles, a move they believe will save the rhino.

Rian Geldenhuys, another director at Section 24 Rights Coalition, said SA authorities needed to decisively engage with their counterparts in the Asian countries to which most of the country’s rhino horns were exported.

Head of public liaison in The Presidency, Mosa Sijosingoe, received the petition and said the message would be delivered to President Jacob Zuma.

Meanwhile, KwazuluNatal conservation group Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is pushing for rhino horns to be traded legally, reports Avery Carpenter.

Ezemvelo’s chief executive Bandile Mkhize said at Thula Thula private game reserve last week that it would submit the call to Cites (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

Mkhize said: “The solution is to legalise the trade in rhino horn. We have to lobby. We have to convince government at national level. We are going to run with this.”

Mkhize said that curtailing the illegal trade would be extremely difficult: “The sophistication of the syndicates involved is amazing, as is the money involved.”

Mkhize said the use of night-vision goggles and helicopters were of the utmost concern. – Sapa