4 hours ago
Helene Eloff
SKUKUZA – A taxi driver, a mechanic and two other men were charged with poaching-related activities in Skukuza Regional Court on Wednesday.
According to police spokesman WO Willie Broodryk, Solly Shabangu, Butana Timothy Dlamini, Freddy Nkuna and Samuel Hlupheka Vukeni were arrested in Skukuza staff village on Tuesday morning after sniffer dogs allegedly found suspicious items in their possession.
The group travelled in two vehicles, a VW Polo and a Toyota Quantum minibus.
According to Broodryk the vehicles were reported to the police as possibly having been involved in illegal activities.
When members of the police spotted Shabangu and Vukeni travelling in the Polo, they pulled over the vehicle.
A search revealed two knives, a homemade silencer and live ammunition.
The Polo was taken to the park’s Missions Area Joint Operations Centre (Majoc) headquarters.
Members of the Kruger National Park’s protection services pulled over the minibus and took it to Majoc as well. According to a witness statement, police dogs “reacted positively to a rifle smell of the taxi”.
Dlamini and Nkuna were also arrested at Majoc and taken to Skukuza police’s holding cells.
On Wednesday the four were charged with poaching-related crimes, including the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
According to Broodryk, it is believed that the items were earmarked for use in poaching activities.
“Ballistic test results will indicate whether the firearms have been used in previous criminal activity,” he said.
The case was postponed to yesterday and all four accused remained in custody over the weekend.
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