Mr Speaker, yesterday the hon Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs urged people, particularly those adjacent to the Kruger National Park, to be more vigilant and to report any suspicious activities that are linked to poaching. Let us as the national Parliament all echo that today.
A few days ago we saw the sad images of a rhino, still alive but dehorned, walking around near the Phabeni gate of the Kruger National Park. This unfortunate animal was found and put down by SANParks less than 12 hours ago. The image of this scarred rhino went viral on social media, which again focused on the tragedy that is playing out in South Africa.
Ian Player has called this an act of terrorism. Is he not correct? When other people, for example people from neighbouring countries, come in and hunt down our assets, is he not correct to call it an act of terrorism?
Rhinos are our assets and it's time for us and our Defence Force to regard this as an act against our assets and to take the necessary action. The ANC took a decision at their last conference in Bloemfontein to protect our rhinos. Maybe it is time go up to another level.