Africa Wild

2014-12-27 23:13


Johannesburg - Three rangers who were arrested for murder, were granted bail in the Ubombo Magistrate's Court on Saturday, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said.

"The rangers were arrested on Christmas Day for shooting an alleged poacher. They were released on R1 000 bail each," said spokesperson Musa Mntambo.

Mntambo said the rangers were doing a foot patrol on Thursday in uMkhuze Game Reserve when they saw three suspected poachers.

When the rangers tried to stop the men they ran and the rangers chased them and put all rangers on alert. The entrances to the park were closed.

"Rangers outside about a kilometer from the reserve saw a guy coming towards them and asked the man to stop and hold his hands in the air," Mntambo said.

"The man took out a knife and when the rangers realised that he was one of the suspected poachers, a shoot-out occurred and the man died."

He said the rangers called the police to investigate a case of alleged poaching, but when police arrived they arrested the rangers.

KwaZulu-Natal police confirmed three rangers were arrested and were released on bail.

"They were arrested in Jozini after they killed an unarmed man they claimed is a suspected poacher," spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said.

Investigations continue.

However, acting chief executive of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Dr David Mabunda, said he was surprised that the rangers were arrested.

"The poachers are getting away with murder while law enforcement agencies are at war with each other," he said in a statement on Friday.

"It doesn't make sense and I'm furious."

He said the rangers killed the suspected poacher when they suspected their lives were in danger.

"We will allow the law to take its course and we will spare no resources in providing legal support to our rangers and also emotional support by referring them for counselling once they are released," Mabunda said.

"I plan to meet with the National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega to set up a protocol to handle these matters."
- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Bail-f ... r-20141227

Anti-Rhino Poaching Unit lays complaint after game Rangers arrested

Sunday 28 December 2014 16:33
Nhlanhla Nxele

Conservation agency, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, has laid a complaint with the National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega following the arrest of two anti-rhino poaching game rangers.

Three game rangers from the Anti-Rhino Poaching Unit were spending their Christmas Day trying to protect the animals when they confronted a suspected poacher. The suspect was shot and killed at the Umkhuze Game Reserve in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park on the province's north coast.

They were arrested and charged with murder by the police.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo says, " There was a shootout between Ezemvelo Wildlife Rangers and
suspected poachers. Poachers were coming from the game reserve and as soon as they walked out they met the rangers. Rangers shot one suspected poacher dead - we then informed the police to come and open the case of illegal poaching and when the police came they arrested our members the field rangers."

Police arrested the conservation workers for murder, angering authorities at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Two were charged for murder and released on a thousand rand bail each.
Police spokesperson Jay Naicker says the rangers at the scene failed to provide the police with the necessary answers as to why an individual was killed,

"Police at Jozini were called to the murder that has occurred at the game reserve in Jozini area; when they got there they found an alleged poacher has been shot and passed away at the scene. The three game rangers that were present were questioned by officer. It is alleged that they suspected the individuals of poaching and had chased him and they could not provide police to the full explanation to why a man was killed. The three were taken in for questioning, two of the game rangers were charged and appeared at Mbumbulu where they appeared at Umbumbulu and released in a thousand rand bail."

1117 Rhino have been poached this year.

Ezemvelo KZN Wild Life says it's concerned and shocked by action of the SAPS. Mntambo says Ezemvelo's acting CEO David Mabunda has already written a formal letter of dissatisfaction and requested an immediate meeting with the national police commissioner,

"We were surprised that the SAPS arrested our field ranger - it came as a shock to us as we don't remember when last something like this has happened but our acting CEO Doctor Mabunda has indicated that they will try to set up a meeting with the commissioner of police to try and see if we can again work together with saps in such situations."

The Eemvelo KZN Wildlife is awaiting the intervention of the national police commissioner after they forwaded their grievience with the police. They say game rangers involved in anti-poaching operations are faced with an increasingly difficult task. About 70 rhino have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal this year.

It's a new one, as they were outside the Park, it seems?