The Environmental Affairs Committee of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), chaired by Johannesburg attorney Catherine Warburton, has offered its support to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the fight against rhino poaching. The LSSA indicated that certain specialised criminal and environmental legal services of its committee members could possibly be of value to the organisations. The LSSA said it has been following the rhino poaching epidemic in South Africa with shock and concern, and the outcomes of the fight against the poaching of rhino’s in South Africa are increasingly critical to civil society, the conservation community and also to the LSSA.
The LSSA indicated that it appreciates the extremely confidential nature of the anti-poaching initiatives but wished to offer the DEA and the NPA its support and assistance, where it is necessary and to provide such support without compromising the success and effectiveness of any initiatives.
The LSSA recognised and applauded the efforts of the specialist teams set up to address the matter, as well as the various other interventions coordinated by the DEA. The LSSA noted that these interventions have significantly contributed to the increase in arrests and convictions of poaching perpetrators.
The LSSA stressed that 2015 will be a pivotal year in the battle to deter the illegal killing of South Africa’s rhino.
The Law Society of South Africa’s Environmental Affairs Committee has offered their assistance in the fight against rhino poaching.
Compiled by Barbara Whittle, communication manager, Law Society of South Africa, barbara@lssa.org.za
This article was first published in De Rebus in 2015 (July) DR 24.