Suspected rhino poachers to appear in Limpopo court

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Pretoria - Five suspected rhino poachers are to appear before the Phalaborwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Limpopo police said on Sunday.

The five were arrested in Gravelotte, just outside Phalaborwa on Thursday night on suspicion that they were on their way to kill a rhino at a nearby game reserve.

“At around 7:30pm on Thursday the police spotted a suspicious looking Isuzu bakkie with three occupants parked at Gravelotte town. While still monitoring it, a black BMW X5 approached and parked next to it. All the occupants from the bakkie jumped into the BMW X5 and before they could take off the police pounced on them,” said Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Following a search of the vehicle, police found a hunting rifle with the serial number filed off, 20 rounds of live ammunition, three butcher knives and a pair of work suits.

“Initial investigations have revealed that one of the suspects was once arrested for the same offence. The suspects, aged between 30 and 45, will appear in court facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za