Protestors take a stand against poaching
On World Rhino Day, protestors slowly marched their way from Roeland Street to the Parliamentary Buildings and expressed their anger against rhino poachers using posters, placards and vuvuzelas.
Protestors take a stand against poaching
Posted by Cherene Pienaar on 22 Sep 2011, 16:21
Categories: Travel News
“It’s not medicine, it’s murder” and “stop the senseless killing” were some of the comments at the anti rhino poaching protest that took place in front of the Parliamentary Buildings in Cape Town on Thursday.
A sea of red T-shirt wearing protestors slowly marched their way from Roeland Street to the Parliamentary Buildings and expressed their anger against rhino poachers using posters, placards and vuvuzelas.
“Save the rhino” roared up every few seconds as those battling against rhino extinction tried to create awareness amongst the public.
Being World Rhino Day, passersby couldn’t help but forget what they were busy with and either joined the crowd in protest or just stopped to watch what costumes some of the creative protestors had sewn together. Sven Fautly from Milnerton was representing the cause wearing a huge horn on his head and had tied a stuffed rhino toy to the handle bars of his bicycle. “Maybe cutting their horns off before the poachers get to them isn’t such a bad idea” was the eccentric protestor’s viewpoint.
“Why does government turn a blind eye? They are supposed to protect the country and all living things in it. Now is the time to show that they are powerful in fighting crime,” said furious protestor, K.Morris from Plettenberg Bay.
A representative from the Democratic Alliance spoke on behalf of Western Cape premier Helen Zille. “It’s crucial to stop the poaching of rhinos.” She also said that 600 rhinos have been killed since 2010 and that we have to stop the killing.
The Democratic Alliance, the governing party in the Western Cape province, had a motion unanimously passed at the National Assembly in support of World Rhino Day. Zille has reiterated the DA’s support and confirmed that, “We will continue to raise this issue at the highest levels to ensure it remains firmly at the forefront of the national agenda.”
Here are some of the comments of the local protestors:
• “If we don’t create awareness, the rhino will become extinct in less than 15 years.” - Vanessa Macfarlane from Cape Town.
• “Everyone should know about their situation” – Gertrud Sobetwa from Cape Town
• “How would you feel if that would happen to you?” – Pamela Tash from Cape Town was wearing a cape with the famous Times cover picture by Jodie Bieber of the Afghan woman whose nose has been cut off.
• “We must use every opportunity to try to stop rhino poaching and I think today (the protest march) is a brilliant way to make your voice heard” - Dee Dlamini from Cape Town.
Legalising rhino farming, cutting their horns off in a harmless way so that they’re not a prey for poachers any more, and developing stemsells are all possibilities government is considering to stop the act of rhino poaching and save the rhino from going extinct.
