Pretoria - Three Mozambican rhino poachers have each been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by the Phalaborwa Regional Court, says the South African National Parks (SANParks).
Aselmo Baloyi, Jawaki Nkuna and Ismael Baloyi were found guilty on four counts including illegal hunting of rhino, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.
SANParks CEO Dr David Mabunda said the men were arrested on 10 July 2010 in Mooiplaas, Kruger National Park.
"They were found with two freshly chopped rhino horns, an assault rifle, a hunting rifle and an axe," he added.
The poachers admitted to camping in the Kruger National Park prior to poaching the rhinos.
"The sentencing of these poachers is an indication that as a country, we are taking more stringent measures in the fight against rhino poaching. I am glad the sentence is harsher than it has been in the past," Mabunda said.
