Maynier meets SANBI as parrot eggs seized at OR Tambo go to court

The bail hearing for a suspect arrested in the second of two parrot egg seizures at OR Tambo International Airport has been postponed to 16 September 2026, and animal cruelty charges will be added to the charge sheet.

The announcement came as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier visited the South African National Biodiversity Institute at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria on Thursday 10 September 2026 for an update on the eggs confiscated over the past two months. The account is carried in a government media statement published.

Two interceptions, and a species list still being confirmed

The eggs were seized in two separate interceptions at the airport. They were being moved in makeshift incubators that exposed them to cold shock and shaking, conditions that prevented many of the eggs from hatching and killed some of the chicks that did hatch within three days.

Once the eggs were confiscated, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment called on SANBI to save as many of the parrots as possible.

Genetic testing is still under way for confirmation, but initial results indicate the species involved include African Grey, Galah and Conure parrots. All three are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Maynier thanked the SANBI team for its response.

“The incredible SANBI team has been working around the clock to give these vulnerable hatchlings a fighting chance at survival, despite the conditions in which the eggs were being trafficked. Their dedication and expertise are a credit to SANBI and a valuable asset to the fight against wildlife trafficking.”

The law the case rests on

The export of specimens from CITES-listed species is strictly regulated and requires permits issued by both exporting and importing countries.

Section 102 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) provides that a person convicted of an offence under section 101 may face a fine of up to R10 million, imprisonment of up to ten years, or both.

The investigation has drawn on cooperation between the DFFE Environmental Management Inspectorate, known as the Green Scorpions, SAPS Crime Intelligence, SAPS Border Police, and members of the SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit. The investigation into the wider trafficking network will continue with the support of other countries and international organisations.

Maynier said action against wildlife trafficking networks is a priority for the department.

“Environmental crime is organised crime. We are up against complex criminal international networks, and I will be engaging with our department to determine how we provide better resources and support to our Green Scorpions so that we send a clear message: wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated in South Africa.”

What is next in the case

The bail hearing for the suspect arrested during the second interception is set down for 16 September 2026, when the animal cruelty charges are expected to appear alongside the existing counts on the charge sheet. The genetic results confirming the species of the parrots are still outstanding.

The source document is a government media statement rather than a court record or the department’s full case file, and it is the basis for the details above. The statement carries media enquiries to Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson to the Minister. Source: South African Government, https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/minister-david-maynier-gets-update-parrot-eggs-confiscated-alleged-wildlife