Three suspected rhino poachers appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges relating to the possession of rhino horn.
Police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said Forget Ndlovu, 40, Jabulani Ndlovu, 38, both Zimbabwean citizens, and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, 37, a South African, were arrested last month at the Makana resort. All three men, who are not related, were subsequently denied bail.
Several items were confiscated during the arrest, including a 72 centimetre freshly harvested rhino horn, a darting rifle, saws, knives, drugs used to dart animals, darts, percussion caps, camping gear, several cellphones, and two vehicles rented by the suspects.
“The suspects have been identified as the grouping and are linked to the recent poaching of a rhino at Buckland’s Private Game Reserve. The rhino was last seen alive on 17 June 2016 at about 09:30. It is suspected that the rhino was darted,” said Soci.
“The suspects could possibly be linked to 10 rhino poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape, as well as Mpumalanga and KwaZuluNatal.”
The case against them was postponed until July 25 for further investigation.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
