Hon Deputy Speaker, Minister, hon members, in light of the current challenges experienced with regard to the poaching and abuse of our national resources, both flora and fauna, the amendments in this Bill are absolutely necessary.
The Bill is meant to address some of the challenges regarding the permit system with respect to the hunting of threatened and endangered species, alien species or listed invasive species.
Currently, the permit system is being abused by ruthless individuals or syndicates, much like the officials in the North West province that were exposed for issuing permits illegally.
This Bill seeks to provide regulation for the use of indigenous biological resources in a sustainable manner, and it seeks to ensure that the utilisation of biodiversity is managed in an ecologically sustainable way, to ensure the protection of all our species, whether they be endangered, protected or of a high conservation value or whether they be species deemed not to be of high conservation value.
In light of the high crime rate involving poaching of various kinds, and the fact that criminals often seek out the legal loopholes, it is necessary for the executive authority to be appropriately empowered. A classic example is the withdrawal of charges by the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, against a syndicate middleman in the case of recent rhino poaching.
The Bill will provide the Minister with the legal mandate to regulate those species deemed not high on the conservation list and, more importantly, the legal mandate to categorise, in respect of the threatened or protected species, who will receive permits.
No more will people from other countries take our plants without our permission for medicinal purposes or just to have a cup of tea. No more will undesirable people be allowed to get permits to deplete our wildlife. No more will we be confronted with ruthless poachers posing as legal and professional hunters.
Having given this authority to the Minister, Cope will monitor the implementation thereof and hold the executive accountable for ensuring that there is no abuse of power.
In the words of Wangari Maathai, we owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath to our children a sustainable world that benefits all. This Bill seeks to achieve that. Cope supports the Bill. I thank you.