Africa Wild

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... in-joburg/


Hawks bust members of rhino poaching 'syndicate' in Joburg
15 August 2019 - 20:46
BY ERNEST MABUZA

Police on Thursday arrested three people alleged to be the masterminds behind a rhino poaching syndicate in Gauteng.

The Hawks said it deployed a team of experts to execute search warrants in Johannesburg after a rhino horn transaction was concluded with the syndicate members.

Three premises were searched. Two Chinese nationals and a Taiwanese man - all aged between 45 and 53 - were arrested.

"Two rhino horns (with an) unconfirmed value and two vehicles, valued at R700,000, were seized during the operation," Hawks spokesperson Capt Dineo Sekgotodi said.

She said the law enforcement team also recovered about R70,500 from the premises.

Sekgotodi said the operation came after the conclusion of a year-long investigation led by the Hawks in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, which successfully infiltrated a notorious Chinese syndicate trafficking rhino horns from South Africa to South East Asian countries.

She said several transactions over a period of a year were conducted with the Chinese syndicate.

Sekgotodi said the syndicate worked meticulously and tried to counter all law enforcement actions to protect its operation, which made it an extremely difficult investigation.

The three suspects are expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Now for jail!!

They continue to arrest people, but the poaching continues as before. Anyway two criminals less.

Do they put them in jail here or send them home "to serve the sentence"? (Hoping that they do).

Some more details:

Rhino-horn syndicate stopped in its tracks

Posted in News by Admin on 15 August, 2019 at 10:04 p.m.

JOHANNESBURG – The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation executed search warrants in Johannesburg today, August 5, after the successful conclusion of a rhino-horn transaction between undercover operatives and members of a Chinese poaching syndicate. Two rhino horns - the value of which has not been confirmed - and two vehicles valued at R700 000, were seized during the operation. The crime unit searched three premises, resulting in the arrest of two Taiwanese and a Chinese national, aged between 45 and 53. Police also confiscated R70 500 in cash.The men are believed to be the masterminds behind the syndicate’s operations.

These arrests follow a year-long investigation by the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Middelburg during which members of the unit successfully infiltrated the notorious syndicate, based in Gauteng and believed to be responsible for trafficking rhino horns from South Africa to countries in southeast Asia.This comprehensive investigation also involved members of SANParks, the Department of Environmental Affairs, Financial Intelligence Centre, Asset Forfeiture, Crime Intelligence, the Forensic Science Laboratory, Special Task Force, Department of Home Affairs, the National Prosecution Authority and Mpumalanga Parks Board. The success of this sting clearly demonstrates government’s ability to collaborate in fighting the scourge of wildlife trafficking in South Africa and beyond.

During the investigation, several transactions have been concluded with the said syndicate. The latter utilized sophisticated methods to counteract law-enforcement operations, which made the investigation extremely challenging. The investigation has, however, not been concluded yet and more arrests are expected. The suspects are being detained and will appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, August 16.

The Provincial Head for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen Mokoena, applauded the sterling work of the officers involved and commended their relentless efforts in fighting crime within the province and the country as a whole. The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lt General Lebeya also commended this collaborative effort that had resulted in the dismantling of the syndicate.

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink
Submitted by: Capt Dineo Sekgotodi

https://www.sanparks.org/about/news/?id=57881

Media Release: Skukuza Court convicts and sentences poachers
16 August 2019

South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of three poachers at the Skukuza Regional Court this week. The three were given varying sentences depending on the charges they were facing related to rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Jeffrey Mathebula was arrested in 2015 and convicted under Sect. 46 of Act 57 of 2003 - trespassing in a national park, and fined R10 000.00 or two years imprisonment of which half is suspended for five years.

His counterpart, Adolph Ndlovu was convicted for trespassing, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, unlicensed ammunition, and being in the possession of a firearm with the intent to commit a crime. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Abednigo Mahlabane was arrested in 2017 and he was convicted for trespassing, being an illegal immigrant, being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and pointing a firearm. He was given an effective sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

The CEO of SANParks Fundisile Mketeni has congratulated the prosecution, the SAPS, Ranger’s corps and the Environment Crime Investigative Unit and expressed gratitude to the justice system for stepping up and ensuring that all hands are on deck in the fight against wildlife crime. “It is very encouraging to note that the perpetrators are not just arrested but they are also sentenced as it should be. This is a step in the right direction and it goes to show how this poaching scourge can be overcome if we all work together,” said Mketeni.

Issued by:
Communications & Marketing Department – Kruger National Park

“It is very encouraging to note that the perpetrators are not just arrested but they are also sentenced as it should be. This is a step in the right direction and it goes to show how this poaching scourge can be overcome if we all work together,”

I almost sounds as if he is surprised

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/security/b ... -a-decade/


SANParks welcomes first Mozambican rhino poaching conviction in over a decade
Written by defenceWeb - 2nd Sep 201932


The South African National Parks (SANParks) has congratulated the Justice Department in Mozambique for successfully convicting and sentencing two poachers for killing two rhinos in the Limpopo National Park.

The two from Mapai District in Gaza Province were sentenced to 17 and 16 years in prison respectively for the crime of slaughtering protected animals, illegal possession of unlicensed weapons, and illegal possession of ammunition. The sentencing also includes compensation to the Park for damages caused.

The historic conviction and sentence is the first in Mozambique since the scourge of rhino poaching emerged in 2008 leading to a memorandum of understanding between South Africa and Mozambique to counter illegal wild life crime, SANParks said.

The investigation was in collaboration with the SANParks Environmental Crime Investigative Unit in Phalaborwa.

SANParks Chief Executive and Kruger National Park (KNP) Acting Managing Executive, Fundisile Mketeni, applauded the sentencing with the emphasis that if all parties work together they can curb the poaching scourge.

“Some of the people we arrest in the Kruger National Park for poaching are from Mozambique. It gives one so much hope to note that the authorities in that country are taking the fight against poaching seriously. We also note that this is the first conviction and sentencing of rhino poaching in Mozambique since 2008 and we congratulate and encourage them for ensuring that justice is prevalent in this fight,” said Mketeni.

It's about time

The sentencing also includes compensation to the Park for damages caused.

Richprins wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:30 am The sentencing also includes compensation to the Park for damages caused.

Excellent! But as always too late for both