Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Richprins]

At least they stay in jail!

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Court cancels sale of Big Joe’s possessions
The possessions of alleged rhino horn kingpin, Joseph “Big Joe” Nyalunga, which were confiscated by SARS, will no longer go on auction again in White River on Saturday.
40 mins ago
Arisa Janse van Rensburg




Big Joe exits the court during one of the appearances at the bail hearing.

MBOMBELA – Nyalunga was arrested on September 18 and charged with various counts related to the poaching of rhinos in the Kruger National Park.


Upon further investigation it was found that he also owes SARS a reported amount of R21 million. On the day of his arrest, as well as the day afterwards, officials of the revenue service along with customs officials and officers from the White River sheriff’s office, confiscated his possessions, emptying his properties in order to reduce his debt.




Joseph Nyalunga during a court appearance.


The first of these auctions was supposed to be held on Wednesday, but both have been stopped after an urgent court application granted by the High Court. Various luxury items, such as PlayStations, laptops, flat screen televisions, fridges, cellphones and cameras, were supposed to be for sale. Some of the more obscure items include a parachute as well as a jumping castle with a motor.

Nyalunga and his co-accused on charges related to poaching; Petros Sidney Mabuza (“Mr Big/Mshengu”), Claude Lubisi, Clyde Mnisi, Aretha Mhlanga and Rachel Qwebana; were scheduled to appear in the White River Magistrate’s Court yesterday to continue with their bail application.



The former Skukuza captain, who was originally charged with them, was released on R10 000 bail earlier this month. The outcome of the hearing was not yet known at the time of going to press.

https://lowvelder.co.za/456754/court-ca ... ssessions/

[Lisbeth]

They do not say why the auction was stopped, at least not clearly, only talking about tax being owed

As usual, the right hand does not know what the left is doing

[Lisbeth]

UPDATE: Alleged rhino poachers still in custody

They appeared in court today.

24 October 2018 - Arisa Janse van Rensburg


The suspects covering their faces in court today.

WHITE RIVER – The six accused on charges related to rhino poaching appeared one final time for their bail hearing today.

Joseph Nyalunga (Big Joe), Petros Sidney Mabuza (Mr Big/Mshengu), Clyde Mnisi, who are allegedly high up in the rhino poaching ranks, as well as Claude Lubisi, Aretha Mhlanga and Rachel Qwebana, were arrested last month and their bail application started on October 8.

The defence gave their final arguments as to why bail should be granted listing various reasons for all six the accused including the fact that they are not flight risks and that they will not intimidate any of the witnesses.


Nyalunga in court today.

Time caught up with the hearing and the state will submit their final arguments in writing to magistrate Ngobeni on Monday along with a final argument from Nyalunga’s defence.

He is also appealing for bail on an additional charge related to illegal hunting.

The matter has been postponed to November 2 for the verdict on the bail application.


Members of the community speaking to Mabuza.

24 October:

WHITE RIVER – The bail application of the six accused who are appearing on charges related to rhino poaching, continued last Friday.

ALSO READ: Rhino poaching task force afraid as bail application continues

Phineas Lubisi was previously charged with them, but received bail of R10 000. The safety of witnesses, should the six get bail, came under scrutiny as investigating officer capt Leroy Bruwer was still on the stand.

The case was postponed to October 25 when the bail hearing is scheduled to continue.

ALSO READ: Community calls for release of alleged rhino horn Kingpins

[Lisbeth]

Team of rangers arrest eight poachers yesterday

During the operation three heavy calibre hunting rifles, ammunition, as well as various other poaching-related equipment, were recovered.

24 October 2018 -



The South African National Parks arrested eight suspected rhino poachers yesterday during the counter poaching operations at the Kruger National Park.

The suspects were arrested separately in three sections of the park. A collective effort by the SANParks Rangers, Special Rangers, K9 and Air Support Units caved in on suspects.

“KNP continues to experience a number of incursions and many other poaching-related activities on a daily basis. Our dedicated and committed anti-poaching teams are our ears and eyes in the bush and are always out to respond. We call upon poachers to weigh the risks of getting caught and we assure them that the gap is closing in on them,” warned the KNP Managing Executive, Glenn Phillips.

SANParks remains committed to doing everything in its power to fight the scourge of poaching. “Wildlife crime should not be tolerated and needs to be stopped; we, therefore, take this opportunity to urge community members to provide any information that may lead to the arrest and conviction of rhino poachers. The public can report criminal activities on either the KNP emergency numbers 013 735 0197 or 076 801 9679, Department of Environmental Affairs’ crime hotline 0800 205 005 or the SAPS number 10111,” he added.

[Richprins]

Army seize five rhino horn in a stolen car
Five rhino horns were discovered in an alleged stolen vehicle by the military.


KOMATIPOORT – According to South African National Defence Force spokesman Capt Lwazi Malgas, the incident happened on Sunday at about 22:00.

“Bravo Company commander Maj Malebo Manganye received a call from Tracker SA that a possible stolen vehicle driving from Komatiport to Naas was approaching his area of responsibility. Manganye went to intercept the vehicle while it was still en route on the R571.”

She said they managed to stop the vehicle and apprehended three people. “When the police arrived, under the leadership of WO Piet Stander, they searched the vehicle and found five rhino horns inside.”




The suspects and the vehicle were taken to the Komatiport Police Station.

She said the Department of Defence was extremely proud of the work done by nine SAI battalion and other stakeholders in the fight against cross-border and wildlife crime.

https://lowvelder.co.za/457779/army-sei ... tolen-car/

[Lisbeth]

Those are "fresh" horns. Do the rangers not find the carcasses or is the public not told

[Richprins]

They do not always find the carcasses, Lis, and they don't report it to media if they do?

[Lisbeth]

That's more or less what I thought.