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A briefing to the Standing Committee on Environmental Affairs and Development Planning yesterday has laid bare the staggering scale of the biological plunder facing the Western Cape. Since 2018, over 2.5 million poached indigenous plants have been seized by law enforcement, a figure that represents only a fraction of the millions more currently being stripped from our landscape by international criminal syndicates. This industrial-scale theft has already resulted in the functional extinction of seven Conophytum species and two subspecies in the wild, representing an irreversible loss to South Africa’s natural heritage.

The briefing revealed that what was once opportunistic poaching has evolved into a sophisticated, well-funded criminal enterprise. High-value species like Clivia mirabilis are being smuggled through the Limpopo border disguised as common agricultural products, such as sugarcane, to reach international markets where they can fetch ten times their local value. These syndicates operate with precision, often deploying groups of 75 to 150 poachers in a single night, treating our province’s unique biodiversity as a common currency for organised crime.

Dave Bryant MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, said: "The scale of this crisis demands a robust 'Whole-of-Government' response that integrates national, provincial, and local resources. There is an urgent need for Specialised Environmental Crime Courts to ensure that these criminal networks are met with judicial consequences. Enforcement measures are only effective if they lead to successful convictions. The City of Cape Town has already indicated its willingness to support this goal by exploring the funding of dedicated prosecutors to walk these complex cases through to finality. We must move toward a unified front where intelligence is shared seamlessly across all agencies to dismantle these pipelines."

To combat the severe manpower shortages facing rural units, there is a need for the expanded use of technology as a force multiplier. Drone programs in the City of Cape Town have already proven its efficacy, demonstrated by the successful tracking of poachers across vast distances, from Robben Island to their landing points in Hout Bay at night. By utilising fixed-wing drones and real-time surveillance, we can bridge the current enforcement gaps and provide wide-scale protection for our most vulnerable ecological zones.

The DA remains committed to a data-driven and collaborative strategy to secure our living infrastructure. We will continue to engage with all stakeholders, including the national Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, to ensure that the preservation of our province’s biodiversity is a top priority.

Issued by Dave Bryant, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning