Special police join war against rhino poachers


A special South African police outfit which dealt with security during the 2010 FIFA World Cup has joined the country's fight against the scourge of rhino poaching which has seen 173 of the animals killed in 2011.

Talk Radio 702 in Johannesburg reported on June 8 that the South African police's National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) structure has joined the fight against rhino poaching in the country's famous Kruger National Park.

The station said since the start of the joint operation, two “poachers” were arrested in the park after gunning down two rhinos.

“We are joined by other government departments and we meet regularly,” said South African police spokeswoman Sally de Beer.

She said Natjoints has set up a joint operation centre at Skukuza camp in the Kruger National Park and is conducting various operations — reactive and preventive.

Natjoints is a coordinating body which is mandated by the South African cabinet to deal with major events including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 2010, a total of 333 rhinos were poached on private farms and in national reserves in South Africa, up from 122 in 2009.

On June 6, the South African National Parks said in a media statement that 173 rhinos had been poached throughout the country in 2011. The country's total rhino population stands between 20,000 to 22,000 animals.

Special unit to foil poachers

A specialised intelligence and policing unit has been appointed to crack down on poaching syndicates that are decimating South Africa's rhino population.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, or Natjoints, the same team that controlled security and intelligence measures during last year's World Cup and quelled a 2009 outbreak of xenophobic violence has now begun working on bringing a swift end to poaching.

National police spokesperson, Sally De Beer, says they have been called in amid fears that poaching levels in the country have spiralled out of control - with an estimated one rhino being killed every day. She says they have started in the Kruger National Park, and have already arrested two poachers. She says breakthroughs in KZN are expected soon.

"We have activated our provincial joint operational and intelligence structure, and similar operations will be launched throughout the country in all the government-owned and private game reserves," she said.

"We know that KZN has a problem, and we have had an arrest and conviction from your province lately, so we are very hopeful that we are going to get on top of this crime trend."

There used to be a very successful South African Police Unit known as the Endangered Species Unit. The problem with the unit was that it with its thorough scratching, it uncovered too many itches. So the ruling mob closed the unit down????