Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Richprins]

Two Suspected Rhino Poachers Arrested in North West Province

POTCHEFSTROOM, South Africa – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has made significant strides in the fight against rhino poaching, with the arrest of two suspects linked to multiple poaching incidents in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Acting Provincial Commissioner of North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng, praised the multidisciplinary team responsible for the successful operations conducted on Wednesday, 28 January, and Thursday, 30 January 2025.

The operation involved members of the Lehurutshe Stock Theft & Endangered Species (STES) Unit, Rustenburg Tactical Response Team (TRT), Madikwe Game Reserve Anti-Poaching Unit, and SANPARKS officials. The first suspect, Eric Ndlovu (47), was arrested at the Hartbeesfontein Police Station, where he was already in detention for an earlier rhino poaching offence. Ndlovu had been on law enforcement’s radar due to links to four rhino poaching cases reported between June and August 2023 at Madikwe Game Reserve.

Further investigations led the team to Sghandaff in Soshanguve, Gauteng, where a second suspect, a 27-year-old man, was apprehended on Thursday, 30 January 2025. This brings the total number of suspects arrested in connection with the four Madikwe poaching cases to six, following the earlier arrests of four individuals between October 2023 and March 2024.
Ndlovu appeared before the Zeerust Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 30 January 2025, where he was remanded in custody pending a possible bail application on Wednesday, 5 February 2025. In addition to the rhino poaching charges, Ndlovu faces separate charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. These charges stem from his arrest in Rustenburg on January 8, 2025, during a Crime Intelligence-led tactical operation, which subsequently linked him to the Hartbeesfontein rhino poaching case.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old suspect is expected to make his first court appearance at the Zeerust Magistrates' Court on Monday, 03 February 2025.
Major General Asaneng lauded the collaboration between various law enforcement and conservation agencies, stating, “The dedication and teamwork demonstrated by the multidisciplinary unit have been instrumental in ensuring these arrests. We remain committed to dismantling criminal networks involved in wildlife crimes.”
Authorities continue to investigate and urge the public to report any suspicious activity related to wildlife crime as part of ongoing efforts to protect South Africa’s endangered species.

Mongabay.com The Guardian WWF South Africa Endangered Wildlife Trust Save the Rhino International Stop Rhino Poaching.com Global Conservation Force Wildlife Justice Commission The Guardian Al Jazeera English Africa News 24

[Richprins]

Ref: 9/2/2 – 25 - KNP
Saturday, February 01, 2025, Sentences 1 of 1
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release

SKUKUZA COURT FINDS POACHER GUILTY

South African National Parks has welcomed yet another conviction and sentencing of a Mozambican National, on poaching related charges.
Sixty-eight-year-old, Simon Fenias Mbombi was found guilty on six charges relating to an incident which took place in Malelane, in the Kruger National Park on the 9th August 2016.
The Malelane Section Ranger received information on the date at 01H00 that suspects were in the area to illegally hunt rhino. He organised a team of field rangers and followed up on the information. They spotted two suspects two individuals walking ahead of them at 06H15. One of them was carrying a hunting rifle and carried a small backpack. He then radioed for back up, and a helicopter and the K9 Unit were deployed. The dog handlers and the field rangers made contact with the suspects, unfortunately one of them escaped after running through a group of elephants. Mbombi was then arrested in possessions of the following items:
1. A .375 hunting rifle.
2. Four ammunitions
3. One axe.
He was processed and charged with six counts related to the incident and sentenced on the 31 January 2025 by the Skukuza Magistrate Court. The charges and sentences were as below:
1. Trespassing in a National Park: Two years
2. Conspiracy to commit a crime: Four years
3. Possession of an unlicensed firearm: Five years
4. Possession of a firearm with the intention to commit a crime: Four years
5. Possession of ammunition: Two years
6. Possession of a dangerous weapon: One year
The court ordered that the sentences in count 4 and 5 must run concurrently with count 3. Mbombi will serve an effective sentence of 12 years in prison. SANParks lauded the Rangers, K9 and Aviators for a successful arrest and congratulated the prosecutor for presenting a compelling case to the court. …. Ends”.
For previous media statements please go to www.sanparks.org
Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks)
JP Louw: SANParks Head of Communications and Spokesperson.

[Lisbeth]

Eight+ years

[Richprins]

Arrest Of Former Staff Member

South African National Parks (SANParks) today acknowledged the arrest of its former employee after the South African Police Services (SAPS) storeroom for Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit in Skukuza was reportedly burgled on 23 January 2025.

The 52-year-old was arrested yesterday, 04 February 2025 and will be appearing at the Masoyi Magistrate Court today, 05 February 2025. He has since resigned from his position at SANParks. His name has been withheld as he has not been charged yet and the SAPS will be sharing more information after his court appearance.


Issued By

South African National Parks (SANParks)

[Lisbeth]

Infamy!

[Richprins]

This story sounds very odd indeed!


UPDATE | Former SANParks official granted bail in Masoyi District Court
The suspect was granted R1 000 bail, and will make his next court appearance on March 10.
20 hours ago
Buhle Matsoele


The items stolen during the burglary. > Photos: Supplied>SANParks

The Masoyi District Court granted Johannes de Beer (52), a former SANParks official, facing business burglary charges R1 000 bail today, February 5.

He had been arrested yesterday, February 4, in connection with the burglary at the stock theft and endangered species units’ storeroom in Skukuza on January 23. Several state-owned items, such as crime scene bags and other equipment used at crime scenes, were stolen.

A case was opened and the initial investigation led to De Beer’s arrest. His next court appearance is on March 10.

A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, said the SAPS cannot rule out the possibility of more charges being added against the suspect as the investigation continues.

“It is alleged that on the day of the burglary, the suspect somehow forced the storeroom container open and entered it. He allegedly helped himself to various state-owned items, which members of the police unit use during investigations of poaching-related incidents, as well as some cleaning materials and sets of knives.



“The storeroom seems to have been broken into twice by the same suspect. Members of the Stock Theft Unit became suspicious when they noticed that something was odd outside the storeroom and they began to investigate. It was during the course of the investigation that members discovered that the storeroom had been burgled.

Mdhluli said the suspect allegedly tried to cover his tracks by putting some items back, however, all his attempts were fruitless as he was nabbed in the end.

“The motive behind this burglary is still unknown,” he said.

SANParks confirmed De Beer’s arrest and said he had resigned from his position on Monday, February 3.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... lZsl7uORkw

[Lisbeth]

It does not sound like a serious crime, unless he has stolen weapons used during crimes or the officials are using the theft while searching for something "real". Maybe they have all gone

As it is, it has no place in the news

[Richprins]

Ja...sounds a bit like internal squabbles if you ask me...