Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Lisbeth]

What a nice guy!

[Richprins]

2024/01/31
Media Statement
South African Police Service
Office of the Provincial Commissioner Limpopo
POLOKWANE - Three males and a female suspect were arrested at separate locations in Limpopo and Gauteng province on Monday, 29 January 2024, in connection with an alleged rhino poaching incident in the Waterberg District.
Police received information from Farm Watch about rhino poaching activities at a local farm in Modimolle policing area and operationalised it with intention to hunt down the suspects.
At about 07:00, a White Kia and Chevrolet motor vehicles were reportedly traveling from the farm heading to Gauteng province when a white Kia was stopped by the police after crossing Kranskop Tollgate Modimolle.
Suddenly, one male and female suspect vacated the motor vehicle and fled into the nearby bushes, but one male suspect aged 56 who was sitting at the back seat was unfortunate and immediately arrested.
The motor vehicle was searched, and one rhino horn was found wrapped with a tinfoil.
A massive joint operation was activated by the Provincial Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, Modimolle K9, Waterberg Flying Squad Team, Modimolle LCRC, Welgevonden Reaction, HPG and Modimolle police with the assistance of a private security chopper to locate the two suspects.
Subsequently, one female suspect was arrested at about 22:00 along on the R101 at Radium while waiting to be fetched by an unknown motor vehicle.
Police operation was strengthened by the members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team (TRT), SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, Tracker Connect, Cap Specialised Operation, GTP Saturation Unit, ICB-Insurance Crime Bureau to search for a Chevrolet Spark motor vehicle until it led them to Sky City, Klipsrivier in Gauteng province.
The motor vehicle was found parked in the residential premises with two males seated. It was searched, and police found an unlicensed hunting rifle with ammunition, two cellphones including knifes that were possibly utilized to cut the rhino horn.
The duo were immediately placed under an arrest, and the items together with the motor vehicle were seized.
A manhunt of the other suspect who evaded an arrest at Kranskop Tollgate is underway, and police are still searching for the carcass of the rhino that was shot.
Anyone with information that can assist with his apprehension of the suspect should contact the Investigating Officer Captain Pieter Meyer on 082 319 9460 or Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or nearest police station or MySAPS App
The four suspects whose ages are still to be determined are expected to appear before the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 31 January 2024, facing charges of rhino poaching and possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
Further investigations to link the suspects with other cases of poaching are underway.
Ends
Enquiries:
Colonel Malesela Ledwaba
082 451 7180

[Lisbeth]

It still goes on

[Richprins]

Rhino poacher sentenced to 17 years behind bars


The Skukuza regional court last week sentenced a poacher to 17 years in prison after he was caught killing a rhino in the Kruger National Park in 2016.

The court heard how Mbongeni Selephi Ngobeni and two accomplices entered the Kruger National Park through Makoko bridge on 21 June 2016. Field rangers on duty that day spotted human tracks in the park that led them to the carcass of a slaughtered rhino.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli says the rangers conducted a search with the assistance of a tracker dog and managed to apprehend Ngobeni with a large-calibre hunting rifle in his possession.




Mbongeni Selephi Ngobeni.

“He appeared in court at the time and was granted bail, with the date for his next appearance set for 19 March 2019. When he did not show up for the appearance, a warrant for his arrest was issued. It was only on 22 December last year that police managed to re-arrest him,” Mdhluli says.

The Skukuza regional court found him guilty of rhino poaching, the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as for trespassing.

Ngobeni was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

https://mylowveld.net/rhino-poacher-sen ... oKjt9kBzk0

[Lisbeth]

was granted bail

[Richprins]

Five men arrested for rhino poaching in Limpopo
31 March 2024 - 16:54
Penwell Dlamini Reporter

Limpopo police have arrested five people suspected of being involved in rhino poaching and illegal trade of elephant tusks.

Police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the endangered species unit together with wildlife security apprehended the men on Thursday.

Ledwaba said the team was acting on intelligence about suspects planning to poach rhinos at a game reserve near Phalaborwa.

“The suspects' vehicle was intercepted on the R529 road in the Letsitele policing area and during the search police recovered a rifle bolt. During the operation, law enforcement officers recovered a rifle without a bolt, a silencer and an elephant tusk at a house in gaSekororo village in Maake policing area,” Ledwaba said.

The five men, aged between 33 and 45. four of whom are foreigners and the other a South African, will appear in the Letsitele and Maake magistrates' courts on Tuesday on charges of conspiracy to commit rhino poaching, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of an elephant tusk and contravention of the Immigration Act.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... n-limpopo/

[Lisbeth]

When three are arrested, four others appear from nowhere and take over

[Richprins]

Conviction - Skukuza CAS 09/07/2021
Master Erick Mbetheni
DOB 1982-06-16
On 2021-07-13 the accused was arrested in the Kingfisherspruit area of the Kruger National Park. The case went on trial in the Skukuza Regional Court and the accused was convicted and sentenced on the following charges:
1. Trespassing in a national park - 2 years imprisonment
2. Possession of prohibited firearm (no serial number) 6 years imprisonment
3. Possession of unlicensed firearm - 5 years imprisonment
4. Possession of unlicensed ammunition - 2 years imprisonment
5. Possession of dangerous weapon - 1 year imprisonment.
The court ordered that sentences in count 3, 5 and 6 are to run concurrently with sentence in count 2. Effective sentence of 8 years imprisonment
Accused declared unfit to posess a firearm in terms of Section 103 (1)(g) of Act 60 of 2000.
: Cst P Molapo

[Lisbeth]

The court ordered that sentences in count 3, 5 and 6 are to run concurrently with sentence in count 2.

There is no count 6 and if the counts are to run concurrently why not just sentence 8 years all included

[Richprins]

The courts work like that, for some reason...