R80,000 fine and nature reserve ban for Cape Town indigenous plant thief

Perlagonium triste, or Kaneeltjie, a tuberous perennial flowering plant poached from the Brackenfell nature reserve, has a long history of use in traditional South African medicine.

A Cape Town man has been convicted and sentenced in the Kuils River Magistrate’s Court for stealing indigenous plants from the Bracken Nature Reserve. 

Ashley Dirkse was convicted of poaching 104 indigenous plants from the nature reserve in Brackenfell on May 20, 2024. 

The species targeted were Drimia elata, or Jeukbol, a bulbous perennial flowering plant, and Perlagonium triste, or Kaneeltjie, a tuberous perennial flowering plant.

Both plants have long histories of use in traditional South African medicine and domestic crafts, mainly because of the potent chemical compounds in their underground bulbs and tubers.

Drimia elata, or Jeukbol, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant.

Dirkse was sentenced to a fine of R80,000 or two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is not convicted of any offence relating to plants during this period. The court further disqualified Dirkse for three years from obtaining any authorisation, licence, or permit to enter any protected area or nature reserve in the Western Cape, or any authorisation, licence, or permit authorising the picking of flora in the province.

The successful conviction resulted from collaboration between the City of Cape Town, CapeNature, Brackenfell SAPS, the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit of the SAPS in Kuilsriver, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

The sentencing was welcomed by the City of Cape Town and CapeNature. 

The Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, said they were grateful the poached plants were returned and replanted in the Bracken Nature Reserve. 

“I want to thank the staff members from the reserve who testified in court and were involved in securing this prosecution. Hopefully, this sends out a strong message to poachers. I want to remind the public that it is a crime to remove any plants, animals, rocks, shells, or any natural specimen from our reserves, coastline, and protected areas,” Andrews said. 

He said the poaching of indigenous plants poses a real threat to the country's natural heritage. 

Nature reserves and conservation areas are established to protect, conserve, and promote the natural environment. The removal of plants from the wild can undermine plant populations, disturb habitats, and compromise the ecological integrity of these areas.

CapeNature commended all officials and prosecutors involved in securing the conviction and said it remains committed to working with its enforcement partners to investigate biodiversity crime and bring offenders before the courts. 

“The outcome demonstrates the value of co-ordinated investigation, conservation expertise and prosecution in addressing biodiversity crime,” it said.

People are urged to report suspected plant poaching to SAPS and the relevant conservation authority. Visitors to protected areas and nature reserves may not remove any plants or plant parts without the required lawful authorisation or permit.

To report biodiversity crime in the Western Cape, people can contact the nearest police station, CapeNature at 087 087 9262, or the Crime Stop Tip-Off Line at 08600 10 111.