Enviro convictions 'a concern'
2008-04-08 08:25
Cape Town - Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk says he is concerned about a discrepancy between the number of those arrested for environmental crimes, and the number of actual convictions.
"This indicates an urgent need for more effective investigations and for increased support from our National Prosecuting Authority for the prosecution of environmental crime," he said on Monday.
Speaking in Cape Town at the opening of the 8th International
Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement conference, he told delegates South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate, better known as the Green Scorpions, had made 2 612 arrests last year (2007/08).
There were 746 convictions during this period.
"Unquestionably we still need more inspectors, and better trained
and better equipped inspectors. In addition to this, inspectors will be the first to acknowledge that formal partnerships with other enforcement agencies are key to successful enforcement.
"I remain concerned to see the discrepancy between the number of
criminal dockets and arrests, and the actual number of convictions on environmental criminals."
Van Schalkwyk said his department was on the verge of signing a
formal standard operating procedure with the SA Police Services.
"This procedure will allow environmental management inspectors to
carry their own criminal dockets or case files, and to hand those over for prosecution to the National Prosecuting Authority.
"Although this will add to our inspectors' responsibilities, it will also allow for the more effective and efficient prosecution of environmental crime."
He also warned of a dramatic increase in illegal international trade in threatened and endangered species, as well as the illegal dumping of hazardous waste.
"The illegal trade in environmental contraband, which is more often than not committed by highly organised crime networks, is extremely profitable.
"We know that crime syndicates make as much as $30bn from
the illegal dumping of hazardous waste, the smuggling of hazardous materials and the abuse of scarce natural resources."
The popularity of the internet made trade in environmental
contraband very easy for the traders.
"A recent study by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, in a one-week survey of the online trading website e-bay, found over 9 000 wild animal products and specimens and live wild animals for sale, predominantly from species protected by law," Van Schalkwyk said.
- SAPA