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Media Release: SANParks arrests employee for illegal hunt of game

Date: 27th January 2014

Musina: South African National Parks (SANParks) Environmental Crime Investigators conducted a successful arrest this morning of one of its employees based in one of the national parks under its management.

This according to SANParks Acting Head of Communications, Reynold Thakhuli who said the suspect whose name cannot be made public before appearing in court is a SANParks employee based in the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site near Musina, Limpopo. “He has been implicated on a number of illegal commercial hunting activities on state land involving a number of hunting professionals and game meat operators.

According to Thakhuli, the suspect has been using SANParks official stationery to interest his customers… “and this made these illegal transactions appear to be an activity sanctioned by SANParks.”

He said the illegal hunts happened in the farm Den Staat which is a state owned property and has an open system with Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site as no fence exists between the two properties. “It was revealed during the investigations that led to arrest of the suspect, that this illegal hunting activity by organized groups has been so severe in that as many as 16 hunting groups would visit the area on certain days even beyond the official hunting season.”

Thakhuli said about ten suspected illegal hunters have been identified in various provinces including Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. “They have been positively linked to this illegal activity within a protected conservation area and colluding with the suspect. These suspects include professional hunters and, game meat operators and all will be appearing in court next month.”

He said some of the hunted animals included a leopard which is classified as a schedule three (3) protected wild animal under the Limpopo Environment Act (Act 7 of 2003). There are a number of charges that the suspect is facing this ranges from:

Bringing SANParks name into disrepute by advertising illegal hunts with price lists using SANParks official stationery and electronic communications
Involvement in illegal commercial hunting business for personal gain in a conservation area
Falsifying documentation including hunting permits and transportation of game carcasses
Contravening of veterinary regulations (health risk as the activities occurred in the controlled foot and mouth veterinary area)
Non declaration of interest in a hunting business
Thakhuli said this is an indication of SANParks' commitment and seriousness in rooting out unscrupulous employees within its ranks.

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170

Enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli
Acting Head of Communications, SANParks
Tel: 012 426 5203, Cell: 073 373 4999
Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org

Race Group and or Language Group ...I have had enough of being politically correct ...Name and shame and ...ja well dont employ same again

Is the farm Den Staat really a State owned property? Or does it refer to the part of Den Staat which is gazetted as part of the MPNP and owned by SANParks.

I think, it's still privately owned and not managed by SANParks.

Peter Betts wrote:Race Group and or Language Group ...I have had enough of being politically correct ...

Peter, what are you on about?

You are a man of the cloth...? Don't worry, all races and languages are at the feeding trough!

2014-01-28

Cape Town – A safari tour operator has been implicated in connection with illegal hunting on state-owned property.

A source who prefers to remain anonymous told News24 that in May 2013 Ikon Hunting Safaris took him onto the state-owned Den Staat farm to shoot animals after attempts to find certain animals on Ikon property was unsuccessful.

Earlier this week a SANParks employee was arrested in connection with illegal hunting on the Den Staat farm in Limpopo.

“He [Johan] said we can go to this farm [Den Staat] and I must take along the cash for the animals I want to shoot because he must pay a guy called Michael...who will arrange the permits and everything,” the source said.

“The guy also said it’s his birthday this weekend and he would like for us to shoot him an eland so that he can have a braai.”

The source said he was unaware of any illicit dealings. "According to me this was his farm," he said.

Denial

Ikon Hunting Safaris was established in 2004 and is managed by Johan Hendricks who denied any involvement in illicit hunting activities.

“I’m not on the farm, I am not the owner of the farm...for two years I am not on the farm anymore, I don’t know what is going on there,” he said.

Hendricks' statement contradicts the source who said he who went on a hunting trip in May 2013.

According to a SAPA report the SANParks employee arrested earlier this week faces charges of:

-Bringing SANParks' name into disrepute by advertising illegal hunts with price lists using the organisation's official stationery and electronic communications;

- Involvement in illegal commercial hunting business for personal gain in a conservation area;

- Falsifying documentation including hunting permits and transportation of game carcasses;

- Contravening of veterinary regulations (health risk as the activities occurred in the controlled foot and mouth veterinary area); and

- Non-declaration of interest in a hunting business.


- News24

SANParks Acting Head of Communications, Reynold Thakhuli said, Mr. Michael Sematla, employed as a general worker in the park, was released on a R2 500 bail and will re-appear in court on Friday, 7 March 2014. “He will be given an opportunity internally to make representation to SANParks on the charges against him, following that a decision will be taken on how to proceed with the matter on SANParks level.”

I see a field rangers are classed as a general workers by head office, so what is a general workers classed as

Tra la la la la la la!!!!!!!! He will walk away with a slap on the wrist and all those who have been implicated with the whole debacle will never be named!

Ja...this whole thing is confused and contrived!

No comment!

Media Release: Illegal hunters paid admission of guilt fines

Date: 17th February 2014

Illegal hunters have appeared in the Makhado Magistrates court today, Monday 17 February 2014 on charges of hunting illegally on the farm Den Staat which is an open system to the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site, situated outside Musina in Limpopo.

Their appearance follows the arrest of a SANParks employee, Michael Sematla in January this year who is out on bail after facing similar charges.

Eleven (11) of the hunters were issued admission of guilt fines by the Magistrate court. The fines range between R1 500.00 and R4 500.00 depending on what animals were hunted, which brings the total amount paid to R37 000.00.

The case of one of the hunters was postponed and the accused will appear alongside Mr Sematla on 7 March 2014. The prosecution of the hunters and the SANParks employee follows months of investigations after a giraffe carcass was found with three bullet shots in the park. The SANParks Environmental Crime Investigative Unit was instrumental in the arrest and the fines paid by some of the hunters.

For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 012 426 5170

Enquiries:
Ike Phaahla
Media Specialist SANParks.
Tel: 012 426 5315; Cell: 083 673 6974
Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

Or

Divhani Maremba
Regional Communications Manager (Mapungubwe, Marakele & Golden Gate Highlands National Parks)
Tel: 012 426 5304; Cell: 082 941 9980
Email: divhani.maremba@sanparks.org