Calls Made For Fence To Be Re-erected

Calls Made For Fence To Be Re-erected
By Nicolene Smalman

One of the suggestions made to curtail rhino poaching is the re-erection of the border fence between South Africa and Mozambique in the Kruger National Park. Sections of it were dropped in  2007 after an agreement as signed in 2002 to make the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park a reality. The purpose had been to give the animals larger roaming areas and more grazing fields.

Letaba section ranger Andrew Desmet addressed members of the media in April during a tour along sections of the border. About 45 kilometres of the fence has been dropped at three locations – Shilowa, Thohoyandou and north of the Giriyondo Border Post.

The SANParks board of directors sent a request to the minister of environmental affairs, Edna Molewa, to re-erect this fence because most of the poachers come from Mozambique. This proposal is being considered by the department. Mbongeni Tukela, head of ranger logistics and support, also feels that the re-erection of the fence will help to curb poaching. It would not keep the poachers out he says, but would enable rangers to see where the poachers get through and resources could then be focused there.

This would facilitate planning. He added that Mozambique should do more to curb poaching. “there must be a will on that side to protect animals.”

Desmet also lambasted Mozambican courts for handing light sentences to poachers. There, it is a greater crime to own an unlicensed firearm than to be caught with rhino horn. In Letaba there are only 15 game rangers available to patrol 38 kilometres of border fence, and only 10 of them are on duty at a time. They also patrol difficult, rocky terrain.

“ our rangers are the best in the world,” said Desmet.