5 SATURDAY STAR NEWS July 16 2011 Union urges Zuma to Birds perish as ownership row rages allay corruption fears PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma Public Works Minister Gwen Department accused of trying to needs to allay fears the country Mahlangu-Nkabinde for failing is fast becoming a “corruption- to co-operate with the investi- ridden banana republic”, trade gation into the two building prevent release of parrots union federation Cosatu said leases, as well as her role in en- yesterday. suring the leases were signed SHEREE BEGA Mozambicans, travelling on “Allegations of corruption off. foot, had tried to smuggle the and the misuse of public funds Cosatu wanted to know why PARROT conserva- birds into South Africa. are piling up,” Congress of ministers accused of serious tion group says the The birds were taken to the South African Trade Unions offences did not follow their Department of En- quarantine station in Kempton (Cosatu) spokesman Patrick consciences and resign while Avironmental Affairs Park. Willem Grobler, a Craven said in a statement yes- the charges were investigated, (DEA) could have “blood on its Limpopo-based parrot breeder, terday. rather than wait until they hands” for stalling a pioneer- claimed they were his but “While we welcome the were dismissed. ing project that would return a couldn’t prove ownership. probes being made by (the cab- Craven said Cosatu had pre- company of wild-caught Boyes said: “Convention on inet) ministers like Finance viously called on Zuma to ei- African Grey parrots, smug- International Trade in Endan- Minister Pravin Gordhan and ther assure the country that re- gled into South Africa, to their gered Species (Cites) regula- Human Settlements Minister ports of gross misuse of public natural forest habitat. tions are very clear about the Tokyo Sexwale, the president funds by Co-operative Gover- Dr Steve Boyes, the director fact that all confiscated wildlife needs to allay fears that… we nance Minister Sicelo Shiceka of the World Parrot Trust becomes the property of the are sinking into a corruption- were untrue, or dismiss him. Africa, said officials in the country into which they are be- ridden banana republic,” He said the union federation department are ing smuggled.” Craven said. was still awaiting a response “roadblocking” In early Cosatu welcomed Public from Zuma on how State Secu- an export per- May, according Protector Thuli Madonsela’s rity Minister Siyabonga Cwele mit issued by Being in a to Boyes, Dr recommendations for Police was unaware that his wife the Gauteng Lisa Mont- Minister Nathi Mthethwa to Sheryl was involved in drug provincial au- concrete prison gomery, a state discipline national police chief smuggling. thorities to send veterinarian at Bheki Cele for his role in secur- “We hope that he will now the birds – in is not the Depart- ing two building leases. swiftly respond to these ques- quarantine in acceptable ment of Agri- It also welcomed Madon- tions and to the Public Protec- Kempton Park – culture, sela’s recommendation for tor’s reports on the SAPS to a suitable re- Forestry and Zuma to take action against deals,” Craven said. – Sapa lease facility in Fisheries Uganda, Rwanda or Tanzania (Daff), asked the World Parrot where they will ultimately be Trust Africa to take over “own- released into the wild. ership” of the African Greys, “In my mind, it’s a threat to explaining they would proba- Love letter arrives 53 years late the welfare of the birds,” Boyes bly be euthanised if they could STRESSED OUT: African Grey parrots smuggled into South Africa need to be released into their natural habitat. PICTURE:REUTERS explained. “It will mean a delay not be released into the wild. PITTSBURGH: A love letter Moore, then a junior at the uni- of another month or six weeks “She requested we support written to a US college student versity, which was known at and we can’t even afford two all costs of feeding, disease test- their economy. By last week, we for the DEA, said it cannot is- But Boyes says the parrots, The department noted more in the state of Pennsylvania the time as California State weeks more. The birds need to ing, veterinary care, and had managed to secure three sue a Cites export permit with- originally from the Democratic birds could die. “Further de- and proclaiming “love forever” Teachers College, Kindl said. get on a flight out of South quarantine, as well as make potential release sites and were out the parrots being officially Republic of the Congo, are lays in getting the birds ex- finally arrived at its destina- It included a return address, Africa and into an aviary arrangements to have the par- gearing up for the release.” forfeited to the state by a mag- “clearly the product of a smug- ported might cause more tion – 53 years late. but little other information where they can see sunlight, rots released back into a suit- BidAir Cargo and 1time istrate or judge and only if the gling operation. There is noth- deaths among the group of But the tender note penned about the sender, who signed it: which they haven’t for the past able release site. To save these have agreed to support the birds were obtained legally. ing that links the birds to the already stressed birds, but un- in 1958 still waits in the mail- “Love Forever, Vonnie.” three months. parrots, we accepted, raised the costs of transporting the par- “Mr Grobler’s legal repre- trader, beyond the boxes they fortunately the legal aspects of room at the California Univer- “It’s very much the same “They need to build their necessary funds, and have been rots in six large travel crates to sentative approached MTPA were carried in”. such an export have to be ad- sity of Pennsylvania as offi- type of letter students today muscle tone and warm their caring for them since,” said the release country. claiming that Mr Grobler He claimed that Sonja hered to before the birds can be cials search for its intended might write to a boyfriend bones and feel like they’re in Boyes, who revealed the trust But Grobler is now ready to legally imported the birds into Meintjes, the deputy director of exported,” said Modise, adding recipient, Clark Moore, who is who’s away at college. She ends their natural environment had spent over R40 000 so far. take the issue to court and his Mozambique and that the birds biodiversity enforcement at that it was a perception that re- now about 70 years old and liv- by saying: ‘I still miss you as again. Being in a concrete The trust had approached attorneys have written to Daff were stolen in Mozambique DEA, was roadblocking the turning confiscated animals to ing in another state, said uni- much as ever and love you a prison is not acceptable.” the governments of Congo- and the Mpumalanga Tourism after import. It seems that Mr process. “She almost makes it the wild is the ideal solution. versity spokeswoman Chris- thousand times more. Please The drama centres on an Brazzaville, Uganda, Tanzania and Parks Board (MTPA). Grobler now wishes to take seem as if the trust obtained “A growing body of scien- tine Kindl. write me real soon’.” original consignment of 161 and Rwanda – all countries “They are mine, that’s for ownership of the birds. the parrots illegally. This does- tific study of reintroduction of The letter, sent from Pitts- The university hopes to de- African Greys, that a military where African Greys have gone sure, but I hope we can get fin- “The case will most proba- n’t make sense – we’re not try- captive animals suggests that burgh and postmarked Febru- liver the letter to Moore and patrol on the Mpumalanga bor- extinct or locally extinct. “They ished and klaar with this,” was bly be brought before a court to ing to sell them, we’re trying to such actions may be among the ary 20, 1958, arrived in the mail- has received a few tips on his der found stuffed inside three are keen to have this iconic all he would say yesterday. make a decision on the fate of keep them alive and get them least appropriate options for room last week. The letter had possible whereabouts, Kindl tiny crates in April. A group of species, and it is important for Albi Modise, a spokesman the birds…” Modise said. back to the wild.” many reasons.” been addressed to Mr Clark C said. – Reuters.