Minister commends arrests in rhino poaching case

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Pretoria - Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has welcomed the arrest of a former SANParks field sergeant and two police constables at the Kruger National Park (KNP).

The trio was arrested in the KNP on Tuesday after a joint operation by the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) and park officials.

Park rangers and the Endangered Species Team of the Hawks were on their routine duties when they came across a black rhino carcass in the park on Tuesday morning.

The team pulled over a marked Skukuza police van, carrying the two police constables, after receiving information.

On searching the van, a person suspected of being a poacher, who was armed with a .375 hunting rifle and rounds of ammunition, was found.

“When the constables were asked about the man and the rifle, they could not give a satisfactory explanation and were arrested,” a joint statement by the Environmental Affairs, the Hawks and South African National Parks (SANParks) said on Wednesday.

During the operation, the .375 hunting rifle, ammunition, a silencer and poaching equipment, were seized.

“The SANParks and SAPS officials who performed the arrests are congratulated for their outstanding work. The arrest sends a strong message that officials alleged to be involved in poaching will be arrested and face the full might of the law,” said Minister Molewa.

The Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Simon Mapyane, applauded the team, led by Colonel Johan Brits, for work well done.

Both constables are now facing charges of corruption and the person suspected of being a poacher is facing charges of being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

They will appear in the Skukuza Magistrates’ Court soon.

Since January 1, the KNP has lost 272 rhino to poachers and 52 individuals have been arrested. A total of 419 rhino have been poached in South Africa so far this year.

Of this, 48 rhino have been killed in Limpopo, 41 in KwaZulu-Natal and 26 in North West. A total of 119 people have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching.

Those with information on rhino poaching activities can make use of the tip-off lines 0800 205 005 or 08600 10111. – SAnews.gov.za