AN INADEQUATE AND DISAPPOINTING OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO THE BREAKING POINT REPORT

South African Rhino in Captivity in China Image Credit Ban Animal Trading South Africa

The EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading, authors of the investigative report called the Breaking Point Report: Uncovering South Africa’s Shameful Live Wildlife Trade with China, the second in the Extinction Business series, have expressed their disappointment at the inadequate official response from the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in an open communication.

The Report published in 2020, highlighted the fundamental problems which are systemic in nature and relate to overarching policy issues. At the time, the authors welcomed the Minister’s commitment to investigating the serious issues raised in the Report.

The matter of the Report related to South Africa’s legal wildlife trade with China, at the time of the publication in the Minister committed to investigate the serious issues raised in the Report, within a three-month period and committed to: strengthening the permitting system, greater transparency within governmental systems and access to information. The Minister also acknowledged that civil society has a role to play in holding government to account and therefore government should be transparent.

READ THE FULL COMMUNICATION:

https://emsfoundation.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BAT-and-EMS-Open-Response-to-Minister-Creecys-Parliamentary-Reply-on-Breaking-Point-Report_12122021.pdf

Image Credit: Smaragda Louw / South African Rhino in Chinese Zoo