EC private game reserve owners rail against disbandment of rhino task team

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An association of private game reserve owners in the Eastern Cape has lashed out at authorities for withdrawing a rhino task team.

In a hard-hitting statement today, the association known as Indalo, said it could not have come at a worse time given the slaying of four rhino at Lalibela Game Reserve this week.

Indalo says its also a clear indication that local government does not see the rhino crisis as a priority adding that the timing casts serious suspicion over political will to stop organised criminals in the Eastern Cape.

Indalo spokesperson, Andrew Muir, responds to an earlier report that the task had been a temporary measure and it was not uncommon for task teams to be disbanded.

"We do understand that there is a resource allocation priority within SAPS and that off-course they put task teams together and these can be withdrawn and put back. But, I would say with the rhino numbers escalating in the country it just doesn't make sense how you can disband a task team when the rhino crisis is getting worse," he said.