Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Richprins]

Friday, April 11, 2025, Sentence 1 /of 1
MEDIA RELEASE

ELEVEN YEAR JAIL SENTENCE FOR A LOCAL POACHER

South African National Parks (SANParks) applauds the sentencing of a poacher, Elias Sithole (South African) by the Skukuza Regional Court for poaching related activities in the Kruger National Park. Sithole was found guilty on six counts yesterday, 10 April 2025.

During a special operation on 23 January 2020, Kruger and Phabeni Gates Dog Handlers noticed a suspicious vehicle travelling on a gravel road between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop, they flagged the vehicle to stop but the driver did not comply. A short pursuit ensued, ending when the vehicle came to a stop. Two males exited the vehicle and fled into the bush whilst the driver remained inside the car. Upon inspection, a hunting rifle was found lying on the back seat of the vehicle. The driver claimed innocence and indicated that the two men who fled had tried to hijack him.

Back-up response units comprising of Rangers, Environmental Investigation Unit, Protection Services, SAPS Skukuza and Local Criminal Record Centre rushed to the scene and assisted the Dog Handlers. A hunting rifle, ammunition and two knives were recovered from the vehicle.

Yesterday, 10 April 2025 Sithole was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment, with some sentences running concurrently. He was found guilty on charges as follows:

Count 1 – Possession of unlicensed firearm (Contravention of Section 3, Act 60/2000
Count 2 – Conspiracy to commit a crime (Contravention of Section 18 (2) (a), Act 17/1957
Count 3 – Possession of prohibited firearm - serial number obliterated (Contravention of Section 4 (1) (iv), Act 60/2000
Count 4 - Possession of firearm with intent to commit a crime (Contravention of section 120 (10) (b), Act 60/2000
Count 5 – Possession of unlicensed ammunition (Contravention of Section 90, Act 60/2000
Count 6 – Possession of dangerous weapons (knives) – (Contravention of Section 3 (1), Act 15/2013
Sentences for count 1 and 4 are to run concurrently with count 3. He will serve an effective 11 years in prison.

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
Media enquiries:
Ike Phaahla: Manager: Communications and Marketing – KNP, Tel: 013 735; Cell: 083 673 6974; or Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

[Lisbeth]

Save the Beasts. Stop the Slaughter
15.04.2025

PRETORIA - In a significant victory against rhino trafficking and wildlife related cases, a 54-year-old wanted fugitive Zimbabwean national, Thomas Chauke, also known as Zacharias Muyambo/also known as Sazu Nkambuya has been convicted and sentenced to 110 years' imprisonment.

This follows a meticulous and extensive investigation by the detectives attached to the SAPS Head Office, Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) which led to successful conviction and sentencing of Chauke on six counts of rhino poaching and wildlife related cases, and three counts of escaping from lawful custody.

On 28 February 2025, Chauke was convicted and sentenced to 110 years imprisonment by the Grahamsown/Makhanda High court after he pleaded guilty on all rhino poaching and wild life related cases, including three counts of escaping from lawful custody.
The accused was apprehended by Modimolle Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit on 25 March 2024 for unlawful possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Upon further investigation, the SAPS Head Office, Stock Theft and Endangered Species team uncovered that Chauke was implicated in a spate of serious criminal activities across provinces, including rhino poaching and unlawful possession of firearms.
The accused was a fugitive, wanted for multiple charges on rhino poaching and wildlife related cases in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. He was also linked to several cases, including armed robbery, rape and kidnapping.
Chauke, previously serving time at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Services, had escaped from prison on 09 December 2020 where he was serving five life term sentences for heinous crimes including rape, armed robbery and kidnapping, prompting further investigation and search efforts by STES.
In addition to these charges, the accused was under investigation for rhino poaching across the country, as well as illegal possession of firearms.

Upon the successful apprehension of Chauke last year, the STES team worked diligently to centralise the dockets from provinces and liaised with the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) for effective coordination and successful prosecution of the accused.
The STES team remains dedicated to safeguarding both wildlife and the community from individuals engaged in criminal activities, ensuring that those responsible are brought to book and held accountable.
Ends

The above media statement was only released by the SAPS yesterday, 14th April 2025, one and a half months after Chauke was sentenced, and is only half the story that's ever been told.
More on the other half to follow...................

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063714330241

[Richprins]

Now that's a good sentence!

[Lisbeth]

People bad to the bone do exist

[Richprins]

Rhino poacher caught in Kruger sentenced to 20 years in jail
DNA evidence linked suspect to rhino carcasses
BY ERNEST MABUZA -
24 April 2025 - 19:41



Nelson Sandile Sambo was caught with two rhino horns in the Kruger National Park in 2020.


Image: NPA Communications.
The Skukuza regional court on Thursday sentenced Mozambican Nelson Sandile Sambo to an effective 20-year jail term for poaching-related offences.

Sambo, 43, was convicted on seven counts, including trespassing, killing a rhino and possession of a firearm.


“On December 2 2020, field rangers heard gunshots about the Stolzneck section (of the Kruger National Park) and started searching. They found Sambo and Gabriel Chauke in possession of fresh rhino horns, a firearm and ammunition,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa.

Field rangers continued their search and discovered two rhino carcasses close to where the accused were apprehended.

Sambo and Chauke were granted bail and later absconded. Sambo was rearrested in 2023 but Chauke is still at large.

“During the trial, Sambo pleaded guilty to all seven counts and was subsequently convicted.”

In aggravation of sentence, prosecutor Lot Mgiba presented overwhelming DNA evidence found on Chauke's clothes linking him to the rhino carcasses. Positive DNA evidence showing that the bullet was fired from a firearm found in the accused's possession was also presented.

“The NPA welcomes the sentence and reaffirms its commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting South Africa's wildlife for future generations,” said Nyuswa.


TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025 ... s-in-jail/

[Richprins]

Two suspected poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park


Three suspects were spotted and rangers managed to arrest two. The third is still at large.

09.05.25 - Tumelo Waga Dibakwane

The police in Skukuza have arrested two male Mozambican nationals, aged 29 and 38, for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as for trespassing in the Houtboschrand Ranger area in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The men were arrested on Thursday, May 8.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said the arrest came after field rangers that were on patrol picked up the tracks of three suspected poachers. They informed their regional ranger (of the Marula North section), who immediately dispatched the K-9 unit to start tracking. The regional ranger requested that further helicopters and hounds from Skukuza be on standby.

“The Field Rangers and the K-9 unit spotted the three suspects at around 14:20 at Gorge Block. The regional ranger then alerted the aerial and K-9 units and they converged on the scene with one helicopter. The hounds started searching in the direction that the suspected poachers had been spotted and, after some time of searching, they were able to locate two of the three suspects. The two had run into a small bush to hide under an antbear burrow,” Ndubane said.

The suspects were arrested and were found in possession of a hunting rifle with eleven rounds of ammunition. The two men were charged accordingly and are expected to appear in the Skukuza Periodical Court soon. The third suspect is still at large.

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

[Lisbeth]

They just don't give up Not even after the hefty sentences of the last cases.

It seems that they got caught before they managed to kill anything