Girl's appeal to Zuma

The plight of South Africa's rhinos has touched the heart of a seven-year-old Johannesburg girl, prompting her to write to President Jacob Zuma calling on him to end the killings.

The letter, written by Afeefah Patel to the editor of The Times, calls on Zuma to please look after "our rhinos".

Afeefah's father, Shiraaz Patel, said she had always been curious about rhinos.

"Her curiosity comes from all our trips to the Kruger National Park.

"She loves rhinos and the pictures of them slaughtered for their horns has really touched her.

"She has been asking lots of questions about why they are killed, what their horns are used for and what was being done to stop them.

"I told her that very bad people kill rhinos and that soldiers and rangers, who have helicopters, are trying to protect them.

"She could not understand why, even with helicopters and rangers, rhinos were being killed, which is why she wrote the letter.

"She gave it to me today [Friday] and said I must send it to the editor and ask her to ask President Zuma to look after South Africa's rhinos.

"Afeefah is really hoping that President Zuma can do something," he said.