Pretoria – Four men appeared before the White River Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga on Monday after they were caught hunting rhino in the Kruger National Park.
The men, all of whom are foreigners in their early 20s, where caught by the park's rangers on Friday.
In the first incident, three suspects - Simon Tembe, 25, Fernando Obet Chivuri, 22 and Samuel Jonas Cossa, 23 -- were arrested in the Tshokwane section of the park. They were found in possession of a hunting rifle, ammunition, some cartridges, a silencer and an axe.
At the time, they had apparently shot and injured a rhino.
The fourth suspect, William Afredo Zitha, 23, was found in the Houtboschrand section of the park. Other accomplices escaped.
All four men have been charged with trespassing in a national park, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Their cases have been postponed to 17 November 2015 for further investigation.
So far, the arrests in the park are fast approaching the 170 mark over a 12-month period.
The South African Police Service, which formed a task team to work closely with the park's authorities, has praised the team for a job well done.
The Kruger National Park Rhino Task Team has been working closely with the park's rangers and has, in the process, assisted in securing lengthy jail sentences for rhino poachers. – SAnews.gov.za
