SAPS, SANDF & SANParks Employees Involved in Poaching

[Mel]

SANParks Arrests Two Staff Members for Alleged Poaching

South African National Parks (SANParks) said in a statement today that in a SANParks driven operation, with support from South African Police Services (SAPS), two of its staff members based in the Kruger National Park (KNP) were arrested during the late afternoon of yesterday, Monday the 7th April, on suspicion of poaching activity during the weekend.

According to SANParks’ Acting CEO, Abe Sibiya the two employees are not attached to the Ranger Corp units within the park… “but are definitely employees of the organisation”.

The two suspects are expected to appear in the White River Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 9 April 2014.

Sibiya said the strategies being employed in the fight against rhino poaching are not only focused on external forces, but also within our own ranks. “We will not leave any stone unturned and this should send out a stern warning to those who are conspiring with poachers that we will deal with them decisively and swiftly.” The suspects are presumed innocent until they are convicted, but we are following very strong leads. “We are constantly on the alert and that is what led to the arrests of these two individuals,” added Sibiya.

He said the use of advanced technology now in place in the iconic park also led to the breakthrough in apprehending these alleged suspects. “This advanced technology made possible through funds donated by the public, various corporations and foundations is assisting in building the much needed intelligence in the fight against poaching.”

SANParks would like to commend our own colleagues in the Ranger corps and ECI including the SAPS and SANDF who continue to take the fight to the intruders and killers of our heritage.

“A lot of work is underway to stabilize the situation and we are confident that the collective interventions by all law-enforcement local and international agencies will eventually curb or reduce, if not stop, rhino poaching altogether,” Sibiya concluded.

For previous media statements on this matter please go to http://www.sanparks.org

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks) Communications, Tel: 012 426 5170

Media enquiries:
Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli – Acting Head of Communications, SANParks. Tel: 012 426 5203; Cell: 073 373 4999; Email: rey.thakhuli@sanparks.org
OR
Ike Phaahla – Media Specialist SANParks. Tel: 012 426 5315; Cell: 083 673 6974; Email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

[Richprins]

Eish!

Need more detail!

[Toko]

Same piece now in the media

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/ ... 0R0j_l_vUU

[Toko]

SANParks staff in court for poaching

April 9 2014 at 06:39pm
By SAPA

Skukuza - Two South African National Parks employees arrested in connection with rhino poaching appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

The matter was postponed to April 16 for further investigation, a Sapa correspondent reported.

Tshepo Mashale, 27, a water controller in the Kruger National Park, and Excellence Shabangu, 26, a tour guide, would remain in police custody.

The men were arrested on Monday while off-duty. They were not asked to plead during their brief appearance on Wednesday.

SANParks' acting chief executive Abe Sibiya said the fight against rhino poaching included focusing on criminal elements within the organisation itself.

“We will not leave any stone unturned and this should send out a stern warning to those who are conspiring with poachers that we will deal with them decisively and swiftly.

“We are constantly on the alert and that is what led to the arrests of these two individuals,” he said.

He said the two men should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Advanced technology was used to arrest the two men. It was placed inside the park and was paid for through funds donated by the public, various corporations and foundations, he said.

“A lot of work is under way to stabilise the situation and we are confident that the collective interventions by all law-enforcement local and international agencies will eventually curb or reduce, if not stop, rhino poaching altogether.”

Sapa

[Richprins]

IMO the general staff are very susceptible to "going for the kill", in which way whatever.


Advanced technology was used to arrest the two men. It was placed inside the park and was paid for through funds donated by the public, various corporations and foundations, he said.


This is not good...asking for funds again...not related to "common" poachers.

[Toko]

Lowvelder

Son of regional field ranger implicated in poaching
Mr Derrick Mashale’s 27-year-old son is also an employee of SANParks and appeared together with his co-accused, a 26-year-old field guide

Nicolene Smalman | 9 April 2014 15:05

SKUKUZA – The son of the regional field ranger of Phalaborwa appeared in the local Magistrate’s Court today on a charge of poaching after the carcass of a rhino was discovered near Paul Kruger Gate in the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Sunday. Mr Derrick Mashale’s 27-year-old son is also an employee of SANParks and appeared together with his co-accused, a 26-year-old field guide. The two were arrested on Monday. The case against them was postponed to April 16 for a formal bail application. In the meantime, the Department of Environmental Affairs has issued the latest rhino poaching statistics: 277 have been poached since the beginning of the year, with 166 of these in Kruger.The full story will be available on Friday.

[nan]

it's quasi impossible without the help of people inside the park
poor Rhinos

[Richprins]

Agreed, nana! SP has never denied this, and "Internal Affairs: works day and night! to them!

Staff villages have also been raided!

[H. erectus]

Just why o' why, should this be published to date when
Sanparks where invited too the bigger picture????

!! members, but not one represented, the greater cause
of rhino future!!!


Sanparks, you are definetally running short of ideas, how to
impress the media!!!

[Penga Ndlovu]

Sanparks has not been able to impress the media in quite a few years now H.
All smoke and mirrors and they know that.