in the North West intensifies
11 March 2007
Following a number of complaints from members of the public regarding the
illegal sale of leopard tortoises and other reptiles along the N4 road to Sun
City, the Nature Conservation component of the Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Environment in the North West organised a joint operation with
the South African Police Service's (SAPS) Organised Crime Unit on the weekend
of Friday (9 to 11 March), during which at least 4 men were arrested.
Using surveillance cameras, the Organised Crime Unit members and officials
from the department pretended to be tourists who wanted to buy tortoises from
two men who were at the Beestekraal intersection along the N4 road, and managed
to get one at the price of R300. After arresting the two sellers, the officials
proceeded to the Berseba intersection where the same trap was set up. There, a
young man who was also in possession of a tortoise, sold it to them at a street
value price of R400.
When asked who he was working for, the young man took SAPS officials to the
house of a 66 years old man in Mamerotswe village in Phokeng, where about nine
tortoises and other reptiles including snakes were found in his backyard. The
two men were also arrested. Departmental officials were reliably informed that
the man runs an operation where the surrounding natural habitats was harvested
of these protected species.
In total, eleven tortoises were confiscated in this operation, and offenders
were taken to the Phokeng and Bethanie Police stations. They will tomorrow (12
March) appear before the Tlhabane and Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate Courts,
respectively. They were all charged with the contravention of the provision of
Nature Conservation Ordinance No 12 of 1983, which deals with the keeping,
possession, or transporting of wild animals without a valid permit.
"We intend to spread this operation throughout the province, but our main
focus will be the hotspots known to our officials. We want to curb this
unbecoming and criminal behaviour because it affects the reputation of our
province since the sellers are targeting mainly unsuspecting tourists. We
however thank everybody, especially members of the nearby communities and the
tourists, both local and international, who spotted this unlawful activity and
notified our officials," expressed MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and
Environment, Mandlenkosi Mayisela.
Today (Sunday) more than 108 vehicles were stopped and searched at the
Rustenburg N4 road, but none of them were found to be involved in illegal
activities. The province is tightening its control as the visitor influx into
the province continues to grow.
Enquiries:
Ms Lesego Mncwango
Tel: (018) 389 5768/5346
Cell: 082 220 6367
E-mail: Lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, North
West Provincial Government
11 March 2007
