Question no

QUESTION NO. 738

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13 of 2008

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16 May 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:

(1) When will the enquiry by the chairperson of the board of South African Weather Services (SAWS) into the various alleged irregularities at SAWS be concluded;

(2) whether (a) the chairperson is the appropriate person and (b) the enquiry is the appropriate method to investigate the alleged irregularities; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how did he reach this conclusion;

(3) whether he gave the chairperson a specified time frame within which to complete the enquiry; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(4) whether he will table the findings of the enquiry in Parliament upon its conclusion; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

NW1425E

MR G R MORGAN (DA)

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS

738. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

(1) The enquiry will be concluded in June 2008; and the final report submitted in June 2008.

(2) (a) In the Minister’s view, the Chairperson of the Board is the appropriate person, considering that the new board was appointed as at 1 April 2008.

(b) The enquiry was deemed appropriate as it allows for an independent entity to conduct an investigation into the alleged irregularities and present an unbiased opinion in respect of whether there is any substance to these allegations. The Chairperson appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers to conduct the enquiry.

(3) Yes, the Minister and the Chairperson of the Board agreed on a specified timeframe within which the investigation should be completed. The report will be available for Minister’s consideration in June 2008.

(4) The Board will communicate the outcome of the enquiry. If required in terms of Parliamentary Rules it will be tabled in Parliament.

QUESTION NO. 73 9
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 13 of 2008
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16 May 2008

Mr G R Morgan (DA) to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism:
(1) Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 307 on 9 May 2008, poaching statistics in the national parks are regularly analysed to ascertain trends; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether the SA National Parks (SANParks) periodically requests reports on poaching from each of its parks; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) whether there are any challenges in recording statistics on poaching; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether there are any legislative hindrances to secure the conviction of suspected poachers; if not, how was this conclusion reached; if so, what are the relevant details?


MR G R MORGAN (DA )

SECRETARY TO PARLIAMENT

HANSARD

PAPERS OFFICE

PRESS
739. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS:

Yes.

Analysis of statistics and trends is undertaken by SANParks Specialized Corporate Services.

As from January 2007 all National Parks have been required to report all crime related incidents (essential elements), both environmental and civil, on a newly developed SANParks Intranet based crime reporting system. All SANParks crime incident data captured for this period are therefore available electronically for the 2007 calendar (January – December) and financial (April 2007 – March 2008) year. The current crime incident reporting system, initiated in September 2007 is the first phase of a more elaborate system being developed to form part of an electronic crime incident investigation process. The electronic crime incident investigation process will, when complete, ensure the capture and tracking of all crime related incidents occurring within SANParks from perpetration to final prosecution results.

Prior to the advent of the Intranet based reporting system each National Park recorded its crime related incidents in its respective monthly and annual reports. Despite the centralized analysis of statistics and trends the Park and Section Managers are still responsible for regularly analyzing the crime incident trends within their respective areas of responsibility.
Yes.
Currently all National Parks are required to submit each and every crime related incident, in the form of an electronic entry on a specially designed template report form, on the SANParks Intranet based crime incident reporting system. All National Parks are encouraged to report the incident on the Intranet based system immediately after each incident has occurred or if no incidents have occurred in a particular National Park, to report such at the end of each month.

The only challenge for SANParks in crime in cident reporting are the problems associated with network links to remote National Parks and Sections within National Parks. This may result in lack of instant updates on incidents. All efforts are however being made to ensure that all National Parks and Sections in the National Parks have the necessary and sustained link-up with the SANParks computer networks. A back-up system has been developed to ensure the transfer of the necessary information to the central data base if computer systems are problematic. The accuracy of the data base on crime incidents is dependant on early detection of an incident by field staff and the dutiful capture by the relevant manager. Due to the remoteness and expanse of some National Parks it is rather unlikely that each and every crime incident will be detected by field staff during the window period available for detection and therefore 100% reporting of every incident immediately, or shortly after it occurs is rather unlikely.

There are no legislative hindrances to secure the conviction of suspected poachers in a National Park. In terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act No 57 of 2003 a poacher will be prosecuted under Regulation 45(1) read with regulation 45(2)(a)(i) of the Regulations for the proper administration of special nature reserves, national parks and world heritage sites, as per Government Notice R. 1060 of 28 October 2005. Such an offence can only be committed in respect of a 'listed threatened or protected species'.