Africa Wild

https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa ... ildebeest/

crime 30.3.2020 02:37 pm
Five arrested in Northern Cape for ‘illegally hunting’ kudu, gemsbok and wildebeest


According to police spokesperson Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba, five SAPS members stopped a white bakkie and searched it.
Five men aged 20 to 42 were arrested in the Northern Cape on Saturday at about 11pm for allegedly hunting illegally.

SAPS members who were busy with patrol duties responded to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle that was driving at a high speed on Main Road in Severn near Kuruman.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Mohale Ramatseba, five SAPS members stopped a white bakkie and searched it.

“While searching the bakkie, they found one gemsbok, one kudu and one wildebeest to the value of R30,000. The members further recovered one rifle and nine rounds of ammunition,” Ramatseba said.

“Five suspects were arrested after failing to give a satisfactory explanation to the officials. A Toyota bakkie was also confiscated.”

Major General Johan Bean, commander of the John Taolo Gaetsewe cluster, commended the SAPS members for their commitment and dedication.

The five suspects will appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

No excuses, the butchers are not closed

Out of season too!

SUSPECTS CAUGHT WITH CRAYFISH WORTH MORE THEN R6M DUE IN COURT

Grabouw police nabbed the pair during an intelligence-driven operation at the start of the weekend.


Western Cape police arrested two men for the possession of crayfish worth more than R6 million. Picture: @SAPoliceService/Twitter

Lauren Isaacs | 21.09.2020
CAPE TOWN - Two men arrested for the possession of crayfish worth more than R6 million will make their first court appearance on Monday.

Grabouw police nabbed the pair during an intelligence-driven operation at the start of the weekend.

Officers stopped the suspects after receiving information about a vehicle traveling on the N2 highway transporting crayfish.

The police's Noloyiso Rwexana: "They saw the vehicle and stopped it. A search was conducted and police seized 12,807 tails and 377 full-sized crayfish. Two suspects, aged 43 and 50, were arrested."

Locusts!

More than 5,000 lobster found hidden in body bag in back of hearse


06 November 2020 - 16:04
Bobby Jordan Senior reporter

Western Cape police have confiscated more than 5,000 west coast rock lobster in a body bag in the back of a hearse.




Police have confiscated a large stash of west coast rock lobster, known as kreef, concealed in a body bag in the back of a hearse.

A 24-year-old man was arrested in possession of the unusual haul.

In total, 5,441 rock lobster — worth about R544,000 — were found in the bust in Gordon’s Bay, in the Western Cape, on Thursday.

Provincial police spokesperson Col Andrè Traut said on Friday: “One of our members, who was previously stationed at the K9 unit in Cape Town and is now based in Gauteng, received a tip-off and alerted an official at DAFF [the department of agriculture, forestry & fisheries], who made the arrest and the discovery.”

The suspect is due to appear in court in Strand soon.

TimesLIVE


https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... of-hearse/

With a tip-off even a coffin wouldn't be good enough

Or they were very small or the body bag was more than one. 5'000 lobsters are a lot. I hope that they will be eaten by someone and not thrown away

https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/kzn- ... 8245477c2c

KZN wildlife under siege from illegal hunters
By Karen Singh Time of article published 3h ago


Durban - KwaZulu-Natal wildlife is "under attack" by illegal hunters across the province says Blessed Gwala, the IFP spokesperson for community safety and liaison.

The Mercury has seen pictures of some of the illegally killed wildlife which include cheetahs and southern reedbucks, among others.

Last week the carcasses of four dehorned rhinos were found in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

Gwala, who is also a member of the provincial Legislature, said wild animals are being “mercilessly” killed in wildlife conservation areas, in the forests of Nkandla, Qhudeni, Ngotshe, Amatikulu and other surrounding areas.

He said these animals are under attack for consumption and for the sale of their skins and hides.

“It is alleged that these criminals breed particular types of dogs in order to carry out their operations,” said Gwala.

The reckless behaviour of organised, unsupervised hunting could lead to the extinction of endangered species, he said.

“The IFP is firmly against the unlawful and unsupervised hunting of wild animals,” said Gwala.

Gwala also alleged that the people behind these illegal operations were intimidating Ezemvelo Wildlife guards.

He said there have also been allegations that police officers are involved in these illegal activities.

“We call upon the law to intervene and to bring the perpetrators to book – regardless of their status in the community,” said Gwala.

Gwala also appealed to the local leaders to work cooperatively with police to end these illegal activities.

DA KZN Spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Heinz de Boer, said this was a huge problem, not only in KZN but across the country and has been ongoing for decades.

De Boer said the issue worsened during the lockdown due to the impact of the economic crisis.

“We have seen a massive increase particularly during lockdown of not just protected areas and not just conservancy areas, but also private farmland, that has been completely invaded by the so-called hunters,” he said.

De Boer said in terms of the current wildlife regulations, only retriever dogs are allowed to be used while shooting game birds.

He added that landowners by law are allowed to shoot uncontrolled hunting dogs which are pursuing game on private property or game parks.

However, destroying these hunting dogs creates problems between the landowners and local communities, he said

De Boer said in some instances farmers are attacked or intimidated and their crops burnt.

“I’ve had reports of farmers in the Midlands being threatened at gunpoint by some of these poachers who insist it is a cultural practice and that they can poach wherever they want,” he said.

He said a multidisciplinary approach is needed to assist rangers who are already short-staffed.

“There’s no more control and even in our game parks ... the fences are not adequate and people are gaining access.”

De Boer said he would be meeting with the newly appointed EDTEA MEC Ravi Pillay to tackle this issue.

“It needs a multidisciplinary task team including Ezemvelo, SAPS, state security, conservation organisations and crime intelligence among others,” he said.

He said investigations must be conducted into syndicates and the supply and demand for these animals.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife confirmed that there has been an increase of illegal hunting both inside and outside of the protected areas in public and private game reserves.

Ezemvelo spokesperson Musa Mntambo said this increase had been noted in public.

“The increase was first noticed during the lockdown period where people were hunting for pot,” he said.

Ezemvelo appealed for those involved in any kind of illegal hunting to cease their activities.

Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 15 of 1974 (42:2) states: “If any person hunts or captures game on land on which he is trespassing, or if any person trespasses upon any land on which game is or is likely to be found with any weapon or trap in his possession, or accompanied by any dog, he shall be guilty of an offence.”

Mntambo said the sentence for the contravention of this law is up to one-year direct imprisonment, and R5000 fine or to both.

He said Ezemvelo staff would continue to enforce the law without fear or favour.

“Intimidation of law enforcement personnel is normal, but it does not result in Ezemvelo staff failing to implement the applicable laws when they are broken,” said Mntambo.

Ezemvelo urged the public to report any planned hunting to their nearest police station or any Ezemvelo Game Reserve.

Mercury

Obviously they know who these poachers are, so why don't they get arrested? The whole police corpse cannot be involved or can they..........