President Jacob Zuma will on Sunday, 1 November 2015 officially open the Joint Operation Centre (JoC), which aims to enhance the fight against rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.
The event will take place during the Anti-Rhino Poaching Awareness Day in the Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Mpumalanga Province.
The awareness campaign will mobilise all stakeholders and all South Africans to enhance the efforts in the fight against rhino poaching which has been pronounced as a National Security threat since 2011.
The JoC has been established to co-ordinate operations against rhino poaching by all affected government institutions including the Department of Environmental Affairs, South African National Defence Force, South African Police Service, South African National Parks and provincial conservation agencies.
Government has taken this scourge as a serious biodiversity crime and has since increased its efforts in curbing it through the Integrated Strategic Management Approach to Rhino Poaching which was approved by Cabinet in 2014.
A need for a strengthened approach, particularly on information coordination and strengthening of partnerships with neighbouring countries, law enforcement authorities as well as communities surrounding parks has also been prioritised.
President Zuma has called on all South Africans to work together with government and its agencies in the fight against rhino poaching and to conserve the country's biodiversity and heritage.
The President will begin the day by visiting the Game Capture Site and also participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Rangers Memorial Site at the Kruger National Park.
President Zuma will close the day by participating in the rhino poaching community Imbizo at the Skukuza Soccer Stadium where he will address the surrounding communities, including traditional leadership, businesses, non-governmental organisations as well as faith-based organisations.
The Imbizo aims to encourage the communities to work with all stakeholders because government believes that the fight against rhino poaching would only be won if the communities are an integral part of efforts to protect their heritage.
The event will take place as follows:
Date: Sunday, 1 November 2015
Time: 5h30
Venue: Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Mpumalanga Province
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
