The Department of Environmental Affairs has announced that the deadline for inputs by organisations, individuals and stakeholders to the Committee of Inquiry investigating the feasibility of a rhino horn trade is 13 March 2015.
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, extended an invitation to all interested and affected parties on 10 February 2015, to present information to be considered by the Committee of Inquiry.
The Minister announced the members of the Committee of Inquiry, and its Terms of Reference, on 10 February 2015.
The Committee of Inquiry embarks on its work ahead of the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2016.
Announcing the members of the Committee, the Minister stated that the Committee of Inquiry would, in the coming months, engage with relevant stakeholders before submitting a set of recommendations to the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC).
Due to the technical nature of the issues to be discussed by the Committee of Inquiry, a Technical Advisory Committee has been established to facilitate the processes and ensure that both technical and strategic matters are adequately addressed before reports and or recommendations are submitted to the Inter Ministerial Committee for consideration.
The IMC will meet as soon as the Committee of Inquiry and the TAC have finalised reports for its consideration.
The Committee of Inquiry will consider information submitted by stakeholders and invite organisations or individuals to present information to it for consideration.
The first stakeholder meeting hosted by the Committee of Inquiry is taking place on 25 & 26 March 2015 at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre (Boksburg).
Confirmation of attendance of the stakeholder workshop should be forwarded to Mr Mpho Tjiane in the Department of Environmental Affairs through e-mail: mtjiane@environment.gov.za, on or before 13 March 2015.
Stakeholders wishing to submit information to the Committee for consideration are invited to demonstrate their interest in this regard, if they have not done so already.
Any expression of interest must be submitted by 13 March 2015 and should contain the following information: A one-page summary of information to be presented. Please note that presentations at the workshop will be limited to 20 minutes.
A copy of the full presentation and any supporting documentation should be submitted to Mr Tjiane by 20 March 2015.
For media inquiries contact:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Eleanor Momberg
Rhino Communications Manager
Department of Environmental Affairs
Tel: 012 399 9948
Cell: 083 400 5741
Fax: 012 322 2476
E-mail: emomberg@environment.gov.za
