The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, will on Friday, 29 May 2015, hand over four 4x4 Forensic Trailers donated to the Department of Environmental Affairs to assist in the investigation of rhino poaching and wildlife crime to the MECs of environment of North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and to SANParks.

The four Jurgens XT Extension Trailers that will be used as mobile wildlife forensic units by four (4) Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) institutions that have been prioritised due to the large volume of biodiversity crime scenes (especially in relation to rhinos) that are required to be managed and processed. These are South African National Parks (SANParks), the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), the Limpopo Department of Development, Environment and Tourism (LDDET), and the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (NWDEDECT).

The trailers were delivered to DEA by the United Nations Environment Programme's Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF). They have been equipped with, amongst others, generators, mobile fridges in which store genetic material, metal detectors, electronic calipers, scales and knife sharpeners.

The handover of the trailers will assist with crime scene management, particularly in outlying areas where the correct equipment required for on-scene forensic investigations are not readily available.

Media are invited to attend a brief ceremony at which the Minister will hand over the mobile wildlife forensic units at Environment House in Pretoria.

Date: Friday, 29th May
Time: 09:00 for 09:30
Venue: Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Street, Arcadia, Pretoria

RSVP is essential. Please confirm attendance by 3pm on 28 May 2015.
To RSVP contact:   

Eleanor Momberg
Contact details : 083 400 5741/012 399 9948 or Email: emomberg@environment.gov.za

or

Dimakatso Tsutsubi
Contact details  : 084 8282 088/012 399 9974 or Email: dtsutsubi@environment.gov.za

For media inquiries contact Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS