Accepting the sponsored vehicle at SANParks head office in Pretoria, SANParks CEO, David Mabunda said the ongoing scourge of rhino poaching in our country is an area of concern to government and ordinary people in villages and cities, including corporate South Africa. “It is therefore with great humility and sense of pride that SANParks accepts the generosity presented by Unitrans Volkswagen and Audi – this is proof that together we can do more to win the fight against rhino poaching.”

He said rhino poaching is a crime that is undoubtedly fuelled by a thriving black market trade in rhino horn. Since January this year, a total of 281 Rhinos have been poached, with 164 of them in the Kruger National Park. “It is worrying that we are still losing such a high number of rhinos throughout the country. However the most encouraging area in this whole saga is the increasing number of arrests, which stand at 176 for the country of which 39 were arrests made in the Kruger National Park, and the steeper sentences that are being imposed on convicted criminals.”

“This sponsorship today signifies an increasing cooperation from the public which we hope will result in successful investigation, effect more arrests and ultimately realise more successful convictions of the perpetrators.”

The Unitrans Volkswagen and Audi, Divisional chief executive, Kevin Gillmer said the survival of South Africa’s natural heritage truly lies in the people of South Africa, which includes business. “It is therefore our belief at Unitrans Volkswagen and Audi that the involvement and participation of all segments of society, including corporate South Africa, in the fight against the onslaught on our rhino population will assist us immensely in the building of partnerships that are in support of the conservation of our country’s heritage. It will also act as a conduit to strengthening relationships with the South African citizens, and this will further inculcate a sense of being a true South African in the minds of many citizens.”