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Date
: 15/10/2003
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: Mabudafhasi: Imbizo Focus Week & National Marine Week:
Anti-poaching protest event
REMARKS BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
TOURISM, MS REJOICE MABUDAFHASI, AT A COMMUNITY ANTI-POACHING
PROTEST EVENT, Willows Holiday Resort, Port Elizabeth, 15 October
2003
Programme Director,
Members of the Community
Ladies and Gentlemen
As we are standing here today, we give a strong message to those
plundering our marine resources that their time is running out. A
message those who have no respect for the protection of our natural
resources. To those who have no regard for the law of this country.
Those who poach our precious abalone resources, a resource under
severe strain,
Those criminals!
Our message is clear: We are taking back what belongs to us!
They are criminals because not only do they destroy our resources,
but they also threaten our communities by turning our areas such as
this, into no go zones.
We know that by their sheer numbers, intimidating tactics and
unruly behaviour they intimidate our local people and they do not
hesitate to make verbal or physical threats to anyone who assist in
the protection of our coastline. These criminals have also been
linked to crimes where individuals have been physically attacked
and we are saying to them NO MORE!
We also know these criminals are a threat to tourism in this
beautiful area as busloads of tourists are turned away as a result
of fear and intimidation. This simply cannot be allowed, as the
loss of a tourist is a loss of several jobs!
So today, as we are celebrating National Marine Week and observe
Imbizo Focus Week we are saying 'enough is enough". We are saying
that we are winning this war- because when the lives of our people
are threatened it has become a war indeed!
We are making significant progress already- and we know the noose
is getting tighten on the necks of these criminals. In the past 8
months more than 200 arrests have been made with a successful
conviction rate of 90%! Eleven tons of abalone were confiscated, 50
motor vehicles and 6 vessels were seized.
My department has last week increased the maximum fines for abalone
poaching from R40 000-00 to R800 000-00 as another measure to clamp
down on poachers!
As government we are determined to win this battle! The
partnerships that are formed between various role-players such as
my department, the SA Police Service, the army, navy, NGOs and
communities such as you, are important in cracking the whip on
these criminals! Today's reclaiming of this resort is the beginning
of taking back what belongs to us. Let us protect our rich marine
and coastal environment.
Two Oceans, Many Ecosystems, One Nation
A people's contract at work!
THANK YOU
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
(http://www.environment.gov.za)
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