Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

[Peter Betts]

Already 2 years in jail, though?

Thats immaterial

[Lisbeth]

Already 2 years in jail, though?

Those two years will most likely be deducted from the five years sentenced.

[Richprins]

Suspected rhino poacher sentenced to five years
Ndlovu remained in police custody until his sentencing because he did not have appropriate identity documents to be in the country.
June 24, 2019





Themba Ndlovu was sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The Lenyenye Regional Court last Thursday, sentenced Themba Ndlovu (40) to five years imprisonment for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

According to evidence presented in court on Thursday, November 1, last year, police received information about three male suspects that were intending to poach rhinos at a farm in Hoedspruit.


Police reacted swiftly and nabbed three people while trying to jump the fence into the farm but one of the men managed to vanish into the darkness.

Ndlovu and his accomplice who had died, were found in possession of 375 rifle with a silencer, six rounds of live ammunition, an axe and a knife.

https://letabaherald.co.za/67327/suspec ... ive-years/

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Mr Big’s trial set for next year
Petros Sidney Mabuza was back in the White River Magistrate’s Court on Friday for two cases in which he is accused of, among other things, theft and trading of rhino horn.
1 day ago
Arisa Janse van Rensburg





For the first case he appeared with alleged poaching kingpin Joseph Nyalunga and Clyde Mnisi, Aretha Mhlanga Claude, Phineas Lubisi and Rachel Qwebana.

They were arrested in September last year and granted bail in November.


According to NPA spokesman, Monica Nuyiswa, the case has been transferred to the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court for a trial scheduled to start in June 2020.


In the second case Mabuza appeared with co-accused Nozwelo Mahumane, Moshe Thobela and Romance Khoza.

They were arrested in June 2018 and Mabuza was released on bail of R250 000 that July.

According to Nuyiswa, this case has also been tranferred to the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court.This trial is scheduled to start between July and August 2020.

https://lowvelder.co.za/491997/mr-bigs- ... next-year/

[Lisbeth]

The court cases are too slow and get re-scheduled far too often with no valid reason at all

[Peter Betts]

Mr Big’s trial set for next year
Petros Sidney Mabuza was back in the White River Magistrate’s Court on Friday for two cases in which he is accused of, among other things, theft and trading of rhino horn.
1 day ago
Arisa Janse van Rensburg





For the first case he appeared with alleged poaching kingpin Joseph Nyalunga and Clyde Mnisi, Aretha Mhlanga Claude, Phineas Lubisi and Rachel Qwebana.

They were arrested in September last year and granted bail in November.


According to NPA spokesman, Monica Nuyiswa, the case has been transferred to the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court for a trial scheduled to start in June 2020.


In the second case Mabuza appeared with co-accused Nozwelo Mahumane, Moshe Thobela and Romance Khoza.

They were arrested in June 2018 and Mabuza was released on bail of R250 000 that July.

According to Nuyiswa, this case has also been tranferred to the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court.This trial is scheduled to start between July and August 2020.

https://lowvelder.co.za/491997/mr-bigs- ... next-year/

Interesting Demographics

[Klipspringer]

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/ni ... onal-park/

Rangers of the South African National Parks (SANParks) have arrested nine alleged poachers in different sections of the Kruger National Park over the past week.

Poachers were arrested three by three
The arrests were made primarily in areas that are known to be hubs of rhino poaching.

Three suspects were arrested at the Crocodile Bridge Section. SANParks said the poachers were found in possession of a heavy calibre hunting rifle, ammunition, and other poaching equipment.

In another area of the park, SanParks said Letaba Rangers apprehended three suspects in possession of a similar payload. The next day, Tshokwane Rangers arrested another trio of poachers.


In a separate incident, SanParks said the carcass of a buffalo laced with poison was found in Vlakteplaas section.

It’s believed the buffalo was laced with poison after poachers had taken its meat. The poisoned carcass killed 117 white-backed vultures, one hooded vulture, and a white-headed vulture.

International World Ranger Day
Apart from the poisoned Buffalo, it can certainly be considered a big win for SanParks just a week ahead of International World Ranger Day, which is celebrated on 31 July.

International World Ranger Day is a somber celebration of park rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and the work all rangers do to help protect the planet’s natural beauty.

It is also a much-needed win for Africa’s rangers, who seemed to be permanently besieged on all sides by poachers.

Botswana’s elephant poaching problem
Less than a month ago, research by conservation group Elephants Without Borders showed elephant poaching in Botswana was experiencing an alarming increase.

The report noted a 593% increase in fresh elephant carcasses in the north of the country since 2014, with many of these found clustered in five northern hotspots.

“This evidence suggests that ivory poaching on the scale of hundreds of elephants per year has been occurring in northern Botswana since 2017 or possibly earlier,” the report said.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Lindiz van Zilla, additional content by Nick Krige

[Lisbeth]

I hate when they poison the vultures

Well done to the SP rangers

[Richprins]

I'm not sure those sections are hubs of poaching?

Vlakteplaas is a nightmare, though, and has been for years!