Operation Rhino PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE FEEDBACK 18 FEBRUARY 2015
CURRENT DEPLOYMENT Section/Unit Coordinating Structure ORS - STF Responsibility Overall Operational Coordination Combatting rhino poaching in KNP ORS - NIU Information gathering; Combatting rhino poaching activities externally from KNP. ORS - Air Wing Support to tactical operations; Assistance with transporting of Crime Scene experts to carcasses and other crime scenes. VISPOL - K9 Endangered Species dogs deployed randomly at access points and road blocks.
CURRENT DEPLOYMENT Section/Unit Detective Services Forensic Services Responsibility Investigating cases; Assisting at crime scene processing. Crime scene processing; Integrity of chain of evidence to laboratories. Crime Intelligence Member of Intelligence Coordinating Committee building of the intelligence picture. Provision of timeous actionable intelligence to operational commanders. DPCI Hawks Investigation process of syndicates and higher level individuals involved in rhino poaching.
INTELLIGENCE Addressing the matter of a lack of actionable intelligence from Crime Intelligence. Intelligence model being applied: The Intelligence Coordinating Committee (ICC), which includes CI, DI, SSA and ECI, sits every Monday morning in the Skukuza MAJOC to coordinate strategic information on the poacher syndicates. Timely intelligence regarding poacher infiltrations is shared immediately by ICC members to the Intelligence coordinator at the MAJOC, which is then distributed to the Operational Commanders to activate forces for pro-active deployments. Tactical level intelligence is also being sourced by the NIU Information Teams and fed into the ICC or to their tactical teams in order to apprehend suspected poacher syndicate members. Historical data on entry points, tracks of poachers, carcasses etc is being captured by SANPARKS ECI personnel and distributed to Operational Commanders for analysis to determine pro-active deployment strategies.
INVESTIGATIONS Levels 4&5 not receiving due attention. Investigation methods being applied: The DPCI Hawks are mainly responsible for levels 4&5 of the poaching syndicates. They have registered projects on suspects which are having cases built accordingly to enable effective prosecutions. The Hawks have had successes away from the known KNP environment. This is due to the Level 4 s being located in areas where there are prominent Ports of Entry such as Gauteng. A substantial amount of the rhino horn acquired from the KNP is finding its way out of the country through the porous land borders and Ports of Entry to the east, delivered to level 4 s in Mozambique and being shipped to the end destination level 5 s at the foreign end user points. The Hawks needless to say do not have the necessary jurisdiction here.
AIR SUPPORT Insufficient air support is afforded to the cause other than when special operations are run in the KNP. Air Assets applied in the fight against rhino poaching in the KNP: The SAPS Air Wing provides a helicopters and on specific request, fixed wing aircraft for the Operation Rhino deployments. The aircraft provided are subject to availability which is regulated by serviceability of the aircraft. A helicopter, considering serviceability, is available at the Nelspruit Air Wing and can be requested by arrangement with the Air Wing Commander should there be no allocated aircraft on a dedicated deployment to the KNP. Flight restrictions determined by weather and low light conditions need to be considered. Furthermore, SAAF helicopters and fixed wing aircraft are from time to time available, but generally only assist with operational deployments, not ferrying detective/forensic teams to carcasses to process the scene. SANPARKS Air Wing does when available assist in this regard.
TRAUMA COUNSELLING Trauma counselling should be made available to members to assist them in dealing with the gruesome scenes they process. Mandated to SAPS Employee Health and Wellness: SAPS has structures in place through its EHW services to debrief members who feel traumatised by the scenes they witness/process. The SAPS Command structure in the KNP MAJOC will establish the local contact details of the local EHW workers and arrange for debriefing of members when requested outside of the mandatory debriefing sessions required when members are involved in shooting incidents. The channels exist within each Division and Province in SAPS to access dedicated EHW workers for trauma counselling, and if necessary to elevate any unresolved issue further within the field should it so be required.
COMBATTING CORRUPTION Integrity testing and life style audits to be carried out on all SAPS and SANPARKS officials at all levels. Strategy to expose corrupt officials: Counter intelligence operations which clandestinely monitor signal communications of officials involved in the rhino poaching security operations as well as those who are employed as field rangers, access control and other tourism or veterinary support to the KNP. Physical activities of suspected perpetrators to be observed and when necessary followed up on. Random and targeted integrity testing to be carried out. First level failure constitutes elevation to more thorough screening by SSA and life style audits by SARS. Possessions inconsistent to salary income to constitute a life style audit being carried out by SARS and if then required, integrity testing process by SSA.
INCENTIVE PAYMENTS Investigation team members do not easily volunteer to deploy into the KNP due to the difficult working conditions. Remunerate persons deployed in the KNP who perform duties under difficult circumstances: SAPS Management to initiate a work study with regard to the provision of an incentive allowance for members working the in stipulated environments.
BORDER LINE ISSUES The border line, specifically with Mozambique is porous. Border security: The fence line is aged and presents very little deterrent to poachers. The trans-frontier park concept is not supportive of a barrier between South African and Mozambique in the areas where animals are to cross freely. No major attempt has been made either to remove the fence to compliment the concept, but similarly, no concerted attempt has been made to re-inforce the fence other than in the far south of the KNP. The SANDF has Operation Corona running which deals with the border security and the SAPS are not deployed along the border line other than on special request or for response during follow-up operations to assist in apprehending poachers. The SANDF personnel are stretched in trying to cover a large area with a less than optimal number of personnel. The assumption is that a large percentage of the rhino horn poached in the KNP is smuggled from South Africa into Mozambique for exporting to the far east end users. This mainly over the porous border line.
HUMAN RESOURCES Insufficient human resources is allocated to the task of combatting rhino poaching. Proposal to increase human resources permanently: Investigative capability the establishment of two permanent Endangered Species Units under the auspices of the Detective Services north and south in the KNP. Incentive allowances as mentioned to attract permanent candidates. Proposal to increase human resources during special operations: Crime combatting operations outside the KNP NIU to increase from one team to three teams, located at Phalaborwa, Hazy View and Komatipoort. The capability will increase to accommodate the expansion to 3 teams, which will include members from the Provincial Tracking Team and Crime Intelligence. Duration of deployments the command and control cell and NIU Information Teams should deploy for 3 month periods to maintain continuity. The operational members of the NIU and STF should rotate monthly to ensure tactical vigilance is maintained.
PHYSICAL RESOURCES Insufficient physical resources is allocated to the task of combatting rhino poaching. Proposal to optimise physical resources during special operations: Vehicles the turn around on vehicle servicing and repairs on minor breakdowns or damages incurred is being reviewed for quicker turn-around times. Specialised vehicles the customising of vehicles to enhance the STF deployment in the bush will be concluded by mid-march 2015. Vision aids the STF are awaiting an initial delivery of thermal vision as well as night vision devices for testing purposes. Once these have been sufficiently evaluated in the operational environment, greater quantities will be procured to optimise the STF deployments more holistically. Other a number of other tactical items of equipment are being evaluated or procured specifically for enhancing the STF rural deployment capability in relation to the KNP counter poaching operations.
FACILITIES & ACCOMMODATION The lack of office and living accommodation for SAPS members inside the KNP needs to be addressed. Proposal to increase accommodation capacity during special operations: SANPARKS has engaged with the SAPS in allowing for an allocated area of ground for developement next to the Sand River Military Base, near Skukuza. The matter is receiving attention from both sides. A more permanent and upgraded facility at Satara is being established for the SAPS members. A temporary field base inside the mid-section of the KNP near Satara has been established in conjunction with the ECI Specialised Rangers and is in the process of being upgraded with regards to be more permanent. An external barracks facility at Acornhoek is being upgraded for SAPS members working externally from the KNP in the villages and towns on the western border of the KNP.
FACILITIES & ACCOMMODATION Status of the current accommodation SAND River Base: 3 Park-homes currently under renovation, which can accommodate 5 members per house but due to gender and members privacy, is proposed to be divided as to accommodate one person per room, thus optimally 3 members per house. SATARA Camp: (Under renovations) 1 Park-home, to accommodate operational members or detectives deployed on detached duties or special interventions. SAPS Acornhoek Single quarters: 30 to 35 members (NIU) to be housed, currently receiving minor renovations.
Status of new/additional accommodation in planning process. Sand River SCM HQ plans to add 6 additional Park-home type of houses to the existing 3 houses, including 2 dog (K9) kennels. This will allow for a up to 9 members to be accommodated in the current Park-homes and an additional 18 in those to be erected totalling 27 members accommodated at Sand River. Satara Camp FACILITIES & ACCOMMODATION Existing park home will be removed and the stand returned to SANPARKS. SANPARKS is to provide 2 new stands to SAPS where 4 new Park-homes can be erected allowing a total of 12 members to be housed.
DEA WORK STREAMS Apart form the Ops Rhino deployments, the SAPS are also involved in some of the following DEA Work Streams: Understanding Socio-economic conditions and impacts of conservation areas on adjacent communities as a means to supporting rhino conservation. A shift in relationships: From stakeholder engagement to developing reciprocal partnerships between conservation agencies and communities to benefit rhino conservation. Addressing wildlife crime and disrupting criminal networks Chairperson Lt Gen Mawela. Regulatory regime and controls. Impact of management decisions on the conservation of the species.
DEA WORK STREAMS DEA Work Streams continued: Implications for other range States, transit and consumer States. Supply band demand and potential models for trade. Trade partners. The sustainable use approach to wildlife management. The current South African rhino conservation process. Rhino history.
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