The South African government on Wednesday stressed the urgent need to implement a regulated trade system to curb rampant rhino poaching.

"South Africa cannot continue to be held hostage by the syndicates slaughtering our rhinos," Minister of Environmental Affairs and Water Edna Molewa said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

"We do have the ability to make this scarce resource available without impacting on the species, through the implementation of a regulated trade system. In addition, this will assist us in further promoting the conservation of the species and growing the population in South Africa and other range States," the minister said.

The on-going illegal killing of rhino has highlighted the need to take action in terms of addressing demand for rhino horn, Molewa said.

South Africa, which is home to over 73 percent of the worlds' rhino population, bears the brunt of rhino poaching.

The total number of rhino poached in South Africa since the beginning of the year has increased to 461, according to Molewa.

Earlier this year, the government launched an international discussion on the future of South Africa's rhino population, particularly the issue of legal trade in rhino horn.

The government maintains that the establishment of a well- regulated international trade could assist in this regard, if implemented in conjunction with all the other interventions to curb rhino poaching.

To this end, the cabinet approved the development and submission of a proposal to the 17th conference of parties (COP) to the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), scheduled to take place in 2016 in South Africa, to introduce regulated international trade in rhino horn.

"This decision is informed by recognition of the contribution of biodiversity to our country's sustainable development imperatives," Molewa said.

During the 16th COP to CITES in March in Thailand, discussions relating to a possible trade, as an integral part of South Africa' s long term conservation strategy for rhinos, were initiated.

South Africa will have to work in partnership with stakeholders and experts to ensure that a feasible model for trade is proposed at the next COP in South Africa, with due consideration of all the views expressed by interested and affected stakeholders in rhino conservation, Molewa said.

"Our appeal is that this should not be viewed in isolation from all our endeavors to save our rhinos," she said.

"Our government recognizes the role of the private sector and the NGO community in the protection of this valuable heritage and commit to working together with all partners in maintaining our successful conservation history."

Molewa reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to further enhancing its role as a global conservation leader and strengthen its role in influencing decisions and decision making processes of CITES parties to ensure that this trade convention fulfills all its objectives. Endi

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