Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

(a) In the Western Cape, the illegal harvesting of plants is prevalent in the Matzikamma, Cederberg, Witzenberg, Breede Valley, Langeberg and Overberg regions.

The illegal harvesting of rare and threatened succulent plant species which are endemic to the Succulent Karoo Biome in the Western and Northern Cape, surged since 2020, with significant impacts in the CapeNature-managed Knersvlakte Nature Reserve, outside Vanrhynsdorp.  CapeNature activities resulted in the seizure of an average of 9 500 plants per month over the past 5 years, indicating large-scale illegal harvesting.

The illegal harvesting of plants on the Bokkeveld Plateau (north of Ceres, east of Citrusdal, extending to Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape), significantly impacts on the Critically Endangered, Clivia mirabilis.  (The Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve, near Nieuwoudtville in the Northern Cape is an illegal harvesting hotspot, noting 70 illegal incursions between April and July 2025.)

The illegal harvesting of various fynbos plant species occurs throughout the Western Cape, noting such incidents impacting on the CapeNature-managed Hottentots Holland-, and Walker Bay Nature Reserves in the Overberg and Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve in the Langeberg regions.

Investigations of illegal activities involving plants at various locations around Cape Town, including Belhar, Table View, Milnerton, Kenilworth and Wynberg, resulted in the seizure of plants that only occur outside the Western Cape, particularly in the Northern Cape. These plants are transported illegally through the Western Cape for further distribution from the Western Cape mainly via Cape Town International Airport. The high number of active flora cases before the court in Vredendal is also indicative of its nodal role in trafficking.

(b) Illegal plant harvesting cases increased since 2019/20 and reached a peak in 2021/22. When placed in context of the total number of cases registered for biodiversity crime in the Western Cape, flora cases constitute a significant percentage. Flora cases registered in 2022/23 constituted 37.5% of the total number of cases registered. In 2023/24 and 2024/25 respectively, flora cases represented 42% and 55% of the total number of cases registered. The illegal harvesting of flora remains a significant challenge in the Western Cape.

There has been a shift in the species that are targeted by poachers. During 2020, poachers targeted Conophytum succulents almost exclusively, but this focus has shifted to other succulent species such as Euphorbia and Eriospermum, and other species such as Dioscorea (Elephant’s Foot) and Clivia mirabilis.

The number of plants seized during the investigation of cases has also changed because of the shift in species being targeted. The number of plants seized during 2020 was 23 090, which increased to 239 136 in 2022. The number of plants seized during investigations in 2024/25 was 33 282, but this must be measured against the change in focus, as well as the impact of illegal harvesting on source populations.

(c)

(i) The primary plant species and groups most targeted by poachers in the Western Cape since 2020 include:

1. Succulent Plants: Targeted for international ornamental markets.

• Conophytum species: Tiny, bulbous succulents resembling stones or grapes. Most are now listed as endangered or critically endangered.
• Gibbaeum species: Known locally as volstruistone, duimpie-snuif, papegaaibek, and visbekvygie.
• Euphorbia species: Typically, slow-growing and long-lived, dwarf succulent shrubs. May also be collected for medicinal purposes.
• Avonia species: Small, stemless plants that grow in compact rosettes are also seized in trafficking operations.

Over 1.2 million wild succulents from 650 species have been seized in South Africa since 2019.

2. Clivia mirabilis ("Miracle Clivia")

• A critically endangered lily found only in a small area between the Western and Northern Cape.
• Highly sought after for crossbreeding and its unique adaptation to arid conditions.

3. Dioscorea elephantipes ("Elephant’s Foot")

• A slow-growing caudiciform plant with a distinctive woody tuber.
• Increasingly poached for international ornamental markets.

4. Fynbos plant species

Historically, the Western Cape’s unique Fynbos species have been a continual focus of illegal harvesting for the local cut flower trade. While there is established formal fynbos trade (both farmed and legally harvested), certain species remain the focus of illegal activity.

• Proteaceae species, such as Protea repens and various Leucospermum (Pincushion) species are targeted for the cut flower trade.
• Bruniaceae species such as Brunia laevis (Silver Brunia) and Bruna noduliflora are targeted for their unique flowers.

(ii) Media publication of prices has been shown to drive values and further illegal activity; thus, disclosure of price information remains a sensitive matter. Below is a breakdown of the estimated values:

Succulent Species (e.g., Conophytum species, Gibbaeum species, Avonia species, Euphorbia species)

• Conophytum achabense: Estimated at R200 000 for 3 500 plants.
• Conophytum fredericea: Estimated at R150 000 for a similar quantity.
• Gibbaeum cryptopodium: Individual plants retail for $2.91 to $3.23 USD (~R55–R60) on international platforms.
• Avonia species: Also seized in trafficking operations, though specific pricing varies.

Dioscorea elephantipes ("Elephant’s Foot")

• Retail prices range from $20 to over $225 USD (~R380 to R4 300) depending on size and maturity.
• Seeds sell for $5.75 to $9.99 USD (~R110 to R190) for small batches.

Clivia mirabilis ("Miracle Clivia")

• Estimated black-market value: Between R6 million and R30 million for 303 specimens.

Fynbos Flora

The legal trade in fynbos cut flowers is estimated at almost R1 billion. On average, fynbos flora is sold in bunches at an average price of between R400 and R700 (from legal sources).

(d) Common Uses

1. Ornamental Horticulture
   • • Rare succulents like Conophytum, Lithops, and Tylecodon are prized for their miniature, exotic appearance.
     • Clivia mirabilis is sought for crossbreeding due to its drought resistance and unique flowering traits.
2. Private Collections
   • • Many buyers are individual enthusiasts who collect rare plants for personal display or cultivation.
3. Medicinal and Cultural Use
   • • Some species, especially geophytes like Drimia elata and Tulbaghia capensis, are harvested for traditional medicine. This trade is chiefly focused on supplying local communities.
4. Botanical Research and Breeding
   • • Institutions and breeders may seek wild specimens for genetic diversity and adaptation studies, though this is often done illegally.
5. Cut Flower Trade
   • • Most fynbos flora is poached for the cut flower trade.

Primary Destinations

• East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea)
• Europe and North America
• Online Platforms: Social media and e-commerce sites are used to sell plants using coded language and closed groups.

1. Traffickers make use of existing networks used to transport illicit products such as abalone and drugs, exploiting the well-developed infrastructure in the Western Cape to ship illegally harvested plants to various markets around the world.

Illegally harvested plants are transported from where they are harvested using either personal vehicles or local courier services to an urban transit hub, such as Cape Town, where an intermediary will package a shipment and export it to other countries, such as China, Japan, or South Korea, using couriered airfreight or existing postal services. Furthermore, recent investigations have shown that shipments are trafficked to Mozambique or Tanzania, and from there to other countries.

2. CapeNature works in close collaboration with Western Cape Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units of the South African Police Services and the Western Cape Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority. Furthermore, CapeNature works with other state institutions such as the South African National Parks (SANParks), the Border Management Authority and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs to broaden efforts to combat the illegal harvesting of plants in the Western Cape. Examples of CapeNature’s collaborative efforts include:

Interprovincial Task Team

CapeNature led the establishment of an interprovincial task team in January 2025, consisting of representatives from the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, to specifically address the illegal plant trade in a joint and coordinated manner.

Financial Intelligence Centre

CapeNature makes use of the Financial Intelligence Centre during investigations to trace finance routes. This enables law enforcement agencies to target the beneficiaries of the illegal trade in the end-user countries.

National Biodiversity Investigators Forum

CapeNature’s representatives at the National Biodiversity Investigators Forum (NBIF) (a subgroup of Working Group IV) have highlighted the illegal harvesting of plants in the Western Cape and it was escalated to the NATJOINTS Priority Committee on Wildlife. The illegal plant trade has now become one of the priorities of the NBIF.

CapeNature, SANParks and the various SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units in the Western Cape also participate in a joint provincial forum aimed at improving cooperation between law enforcement agencies and facilitating communication and inter-agency support for investigations combating biodiversity crime.

National Response Strategy and Action Plan to address the illegal trade In South African succulent flora

CapeNature participated in the development of this National Strategy. The strategy aimed to develop a list of actions to address and manage the current challenges posed by illegal harvesting pressures, and to identify key actors that can undertake these actions through national collaborative efforts thereby ensuring the conservation of South Africa's rich succulent flora.

(b) CapeNature, with funding assistance from the WWF and the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust, entered into agreements with three organisations (National Vehicle Intelligence Cloud, AfriForum Security, Vanrhynsdorp Farmers Association) to enable the expansion of the License Plate Recognition camera network in the region. This technology is used to monitor the movement of vehicles suspected of being involved in plant illegal harvesting. This expansion of the network has also played a crucial role in the improvement of rural safety in the region.

(a) CapeNature has implemented a range of public awareness and community engagement initiatives designed to educate, empower, and involve local communities, especially those in biodiversity crime hotspots.

Education and Awareness Campaigns

• Community Outreach in Hotspot Areas: CapeNature conducts awareness drives in regions most affected by illegal harvesting, such as Nieuwoudtville, Vanrhynsdorp, and the Succulent Karoo.
• Workshops for Prosecutors and Law Enforcement: These sessions focus on species identification, concealment methods, ecological impacts, and legal frameworks.
• Youth Engagement: Local youth are targeted for education to prevent

recruitment by illegal harvesting syndicates.

Public Reporting and Citizen Involvement

• CapeNature encourages the public to report suspicious activity related to illegal plant collection and trade.
• Campaigns emphasize the role of farmers, hikers, and local residents in protecting biodiversity.

Collaborations between CapeNature and NGOs such as TRAFFIC, Wilderness Foundation, and Endangered Wildlife Trust help raise awareness globally and support enforcement efforts.

(b) The planned extension of the Licence Plate Recognition camera network in the Matzikama landscape and along the N7 funded by WWF and Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust, will be completed and fully functional by the end of December 2025.