Hoedspruit poaching, shootout: Pretoria pastor and accomplices arrested

South African Police Service

Hoedspruit poaching, shootout: Pretoria pastor and accomplices arrested
Hoedspruit poaching, shootout: Pretoria pastor and accomplices arrested

A joint intelligence driven operation comprised of the Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Farm Watch in the Hoedspruit Policing area outside Phalaborwa resulted in a major breakthrough after police intercepted and arrested a Pastor from Pretoria in the Gauteng Province with his two accomplices.

This joint operation was set up following information received about an alleged poaching syndicate. According to information, the suspects were driving a Land-cruiser motor vehicle along the R40 road on the night of 3 June 2019. Police noticed the vehicle, fitting the same description that was circulated, and ordered the driver of the vehicle to stop however the driver failed to stop.

A chase ensued and the suspects fired shots towards police. Police retaliated resulting in one of the suspects being wounded. The wounded suspect and his two accomplices were arrested.

During the arrest, the following items were recovered: one hunting rifle, one silencer, four live rounds of ammunition, a knife, an axe and one motor vehicle.

The suspects will appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit poaching.

The Police investigations are still continuing.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service