Dog detectives bust plant poachers in Northern Cape:
Three “pioneering pooches” from the succulent detection canine team at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have made their first official bust, outwitting plant poachers in the Northern Cape.
The team consists of three scent detection dogs: Ike, a German shepherd; Reaper, a Belgian malinois; and Delta, a border collie, who have been specifically trained to sniff out succulent plants. Their professional handlers are Esther Matthew and Shadi Henrico.
The unit has been working in the Western Cape and Northern Cape to help law enforcement officials screen vehicles at roadblocks. At midnight on 13 October in Springbok, they outsmarted two suspects who had dumped a box containing about 1 760 poached succulent plants – Conophytum subterraneum – just before the roadblock.
A single blueberry-sized plant remained in their vehicle, a gold VW Polo, but it was enough. “Delta, our detection dog, found it almost instantly, providing a vital link to the discarded box of succulents,” the EWT said.
The two suspects were arrested and charged under the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act for illegal possession of endangered plants and will appear in court soon, according to Northern Cape police.
It said the arrest was the result of a multi-disciplinary operation involving the Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, Springbok Public Order Policing and the EWT team.
Conophytum subterraneum is a highly range-restricted species from the Richtersveld, which occurs in an area of less than 1 km², and is only known from a single population occurring at one location, according to the South African National Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi).
In a statement, the Namakwa district commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, lauded the multi-disciplinary team, and thanked SA Hunters and Game Conservation for their consistent assistance and efforts to eradicate succulent poaching in the Namakwa District and surrounding areas.
The EWT described the bust as a “major milestone in our continuous efforts to protect our endangered fauna and flora”.
“This incident, along with previous detections of poached succulents hidden inside luggage boxes and courier parcels, showcases the “effectiveness and potential of our canine team in this mission,” it said.
It is working together with CapeNature, Sanbi and provincial law enforcement agencies and is “proud to be at the forefront of this innovative and impactful use of dogs to safeguard trafficked plants.
“All the successful detection events over the last two months showcased the incredible ability of our dogs to find even the smallest traces of evidence and how it can save a great deal of time by quickly and accurately scanning vehicles and parcels for endangered succulents, without having to open them,” it said, adding it hopes to roll out a much bigger intervention in future.
The EWT’s succulent detection dog project is funded by The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, with operational support provided by CapeNature, Sanbi and the police.
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Honda’s modern-day classic icon:
As time passes, more and more cars are being considered classic. This is true of the JDM (Japanese domestic market) segment more than others, with legends such as the R34 GTR, Supra Mk4 and Mazda RX-7 entering their mid to late twenties.
There is one car in particular that appeals to a niche group of enthusiasts, falling under the Honda brand. You might be thinking about the Civic or the NSX but a car that is equally impressive and highly respected is the Honda S2000.
And I got to spend some time with one.
The first time the world laid eyes on the S2000 was at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. Honda recognised the need for its own front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car after its early 1960s Formula One car and with the rising popularity of the Lotus 7. The car presented at the show, though, went by a different name: the SSM.
Honda kept showing off the SSM until 1999, when the Japanese marque unveiled the brand-new Honda S2000. The S stood for “sport” and the 2?000cc (two-litre) engine size accounted for the number.
The car’s popularity grew rapidly after it was featured in the Fast and Furious film series. Its bold, elongated front end, combined with its compact design with sharp, eye-catching lines, piqued the interest of many enthusiasts, and it quietly became one of the more sought-after JDM cars around.
The first iteration of the S2000 was given the chassis name AP1 and was produced until 2003.
Following the highly enjoyable AP1 was the AP2, produced between 2004 and 2009. It saw the addition of the 2.2-litre inline-four motor, which increased power but lacked the thrillingly high red line. The engineers also tweaked the chassis to enhance cornering and reduce understeer.
Although these models were strictly reserved for the US and Japanese markets, they left us with an interesting unit here in SA. This model has the look of an AP2 but the chassis, handling and, more importantly, the crazy motor of the AP1.
The model I spent some time with is this very unit — an AP1 facelift. Being a passionate JDM enthusiast, I was itching to see what this car had to offer and what I found surprised me.
The interior screams early-2000s JDM, with its futuristic digital dashboard and driver-focused cabin, with the radio hidden away behind a stunning S2000-branded cover.
But these little features, although aesthetically exciting, didn’t get me smiling as much as the engine did.
This 2.0-litre was particularly special and went by the name of F20C. It is one of my favourite four-cylinder motors, the main reason being that it redlines at 8 900r/min.
The noise that comes out of the engine bay resembles a chaotic cartoon character getting all wound up and ready to explode. The power band feels endless as, with every climbing rev, the torque builds and builds.
Of course, you can’t mention a Honda without touching on the topic of V-Tec and, in the S2000, it feels like a boost switch. Passing 5 500r/min, you begin to feel the car getting excited as the V-Tec gets involved, giving you a uniquely wild experience that produces a heck of a noise.
This special engine punts a decent 179kW, but with the car weighing only 1?274kg, it sat proudly in second place on the production power-to-weight leaderboard, only beaten by the Ferrari F355 Spider. An impressive feat for a little sports car, indeed.
Being an older Honda, there is a level of expectation regarding reliability. The S2000 doesn’t disappoint as this model had done over 150?000km and had no major mechanical issues. Even the original clutch is still going strong.
The owner has played a role in this as he insists all parts are replaced with original Honda service parts.
To say this car was a joy to drive would be an understatement. The firm, yet manageable, ride quality makes it a comfortable daily, if needs be, while it is still playful in the corners.
Of course, being a JDM car it can slide out on you with ease. This could be due to its 50-50 weight distribution. It’s a joyous experience that sparks boisterous behaviour.
It’s your typical driver’s car, enjoyable to drive at any speed and, unlike the super saloons of today, speed is not necessarily what makes this car enjoyable, but rather its ability to engage a driver even at low speeds.
Another point I found interesting is the fast opening and closing of the roof — a mere six seconds.
Unfortunately, finding clean and, more importantly, stock Honda S2000s is becoming increasingly challenging. This is why owners such as this model’s, with a car they have cherished for over a decade in the way the designers intended — stock — is so important in ensuring these icons live on.
The S2000 is a special roadster, from the motor to the cabin. It is a different car and that is why I like it so much.
The bold design and rare nature add to the experience and it’s cars like this that make me worry about what the future holds for motoring. In the realm of sports cars there simply isn’t anything quite like it.
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Cyril Ramaphosa calls for ‘restraint’ in Israel-Palestine conflict:
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the only way to bring about peace in the conflict between Israel and Palestine is in the fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for human rights, dignity, and statehood.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the Cairo Peace Summit taking place in Egypt on Saturday, where world leaders gathered to discuss the conflict.
The summit comes two weeks after the militant Palestinian movement Hamas’ surprise attack in the south of Israel, which left at least 1300 people dead. Israel’s subsequent retaliatory bombing of Gaza has claimed 3,785 lives, according to health officials in Gaza.
Ramaphosa expressed concern that the response of the Israeli government to the attack on its citizens would further deepen a conflict that has engulfed the region for decades and will make the attainment of “a just and lasting peace” even more difficult.
“We are also concerned that this conflict can spread to include other countries in the region. This must be avoided at all costs,” he said.
He called on world leaders to exercise restraint and on all state actors to desist from providing weapons to either side in the conflict.
“We believe that peace is the only option to bring about peace between Israel and Palestine. To achieve this, steps must be taken now. We therefore call on all parties to exercise restraint and on all state actors to desist from providing weapons to either of the sides to the conflict.
“We gather here united by our deep concern at the unprecedented conflict that has engulfed Gaza and Israel and our distress at the depth and extent of human suffering,” said Ramaphosa.
“As South Africa, we hold the firm view that the attack on civilians in Israel, the ongoing siege of Gaza, and the decision to forcibly move the people of Gaza, together with the indiscriminate use of force through bombing, are violations of international law. More than that, these acts are an affront to our common humanity.”
He added that South Africans could relate to what was happening to Palestinians.
“Our people waged a brave and courageous struggle to achieve their freedom and were subjected to untold suffering, just like the Palestinians are going through.
“The nightmare of apartheid was only brought to an end by the relentless struggle of our people, and the courage and foresight of leaders who put aside their differences and sought peace rather than revenge.”
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