TUESDAY, 8.30AM
ENVIRONMENT Minister Pallo Jordan on Tuesday reiterated the SA government’s commitment to support resumption of the trade in ivory and rhino horn.
Jordan told the National Assembly’s environment committee that his department was presented with a fait accompli after decided to support a Southern African Development Community position on a resumption of the trade. The issues will be raised at next week’s meeting in Harare of the Convention on International Trade in Enangered Species (Cites).
Said Jordan: “No matter what I might think that is the route South Africa is going to go on the question,” after government agreed to support the motion, sponsored by Zimbabwe and Botswana, that limited trade in ivory and rhino horn be resumed. Jordan did, however, promise to brief Cabinet on Wednesday on the committee’s concerns over the issue. Committee members said neither they nor the public at large had been consulted.