Three males and a female suspect were arrested at separate locations in Limpopo and Gauteng province on Monday, 29 January 2024, in connection with an alleged rhino poaching incident in the Waterberg District.
Police received information from Farm Watch about rhino poaching activities at a local farm in Modimolle policing area and operationalised it with intention to hunt down the suspects.
At about 07:00, a White Kia and Chevrolet motor vehicles were reportedly traveling from the farm heading to Gauteng province when a white Kia was stopped by the police after crossing Kranskop Tollgate Modimolle.
Suddenly, one male and female suspect vacated the motor vehicle and fled into the nearby bushes, but one male suspect aged 56 who was sitting at the back seat was unfortunate and immediately arrested.
The motor vehicle was searched, and one rhino horn was found wrapped with a tinfoil.
A massive joint operation was activated by the Provincial Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, Modimolle K9, Waterberg Flying Squad Team, Modimolle LCRC, Welgevonden Reaction, HPG and Modimolle police with the assistance of a private security chopper to locate the two suspects.
Subsequently, one female suspect was arrested at about 22:00 along on the R101 at Radium while waiting to be fetched by an unknown motor vehicle.
Police operation was strengthened by the members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team (TRT), SAPS Anti-Gang Unit, Tracker Connect, Cap Specialised Operation, GTP Saturation Unit, ICB-Insurance Crime Bureau to search for a Chevrolet Spark motor vehicle until it led them to Sky City, Klipsrivier in Gauteng province.
The motor vehicle was found parked in the residential premises with two males seated. It was searched, and police found an unlicensed hunting rifle with ammunition, two cellphones including knifes that were possibly utilized to cut the rhino horn.
The duo were immediately placed under an arrest, and the items together with the motor vehicle were seized.
A manhunt of the other suspect who evaded an arrest at Kranskop Tollgate is underway, and police are still searching for the carcass of the rhino that was shot.
Anyone with information that can assist with his apprehension of the suspect should contact the Investigating Officer Captain Pieter Meyer on 082 319 9460 or Crime Stop number 08600 10111 or nearest police station or MySAPS App
The four suspects whose ages are still to be determined are expected to appear before the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 31 January 2024, facing charges of rhino poaching and possession of an unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
Further investigations to link the suspects with other cases of poaching are underway.
