Kruger National Park: Twelve suspects arrested for poaching activities

South African Police Service

Kruger National Park: Twelve suspects arrested for poaching activities
Kruger National Park: Twelve suspects arrested for poaching activities

In less than two weeks, members of the South African Police Service and SANparks Rangers as well as Protection Services at Skukuza managed to arrest a total number of twelve suspects in the Kruger National Park for poaching related activities, in separate incidents.

The latest incident involved three men aged between 33 and 36, who were arrested on 25 February 2019, at Stoltznek after being found in possession of a .458 rifle and ammunition without a licence as well as a silencer. They are appearing at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court.

On Thursday, 21 February 2019, SAPS members arrested three suspects who were also found in possession of a hunting rifle and ammunition, a knife, a silencer and an axe. They appeared at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court the following day, Friday 22 February 2019, on charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence, trespassing, as well as possession of dangerous weapons.

On the very same week on Wednesday 20 February 2019, two men, Phillip Mzimba (33) and Difference Mahlaule (34), appeared at the Skukuza Periodical Court where they were remanded in custody after their arrest last Tuesday, 19 February 2019, for possession of a firearm without a licence and trespassing charges. The pair was remanded in custody and will appear at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on 28 February 2019, for a formal bail application.

Two weeks ago, four men, Solly Silaule (35), Oddis Maluleke (43), Sam Khoza (26) as well as a SANParks employee, Phillip Gumede (48) were nabbed at the Kruger National Park before they could exit, with a freshly cut set of rhino horns, a hunting rifle and ammunition. They made their second appearance yesterday, 25 February 2019, at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court and were remanded in custody, with the case postponed to today for a formal bail application.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma welcomed the arrest of the suspects and appreciated the good work being done by the members as well as other role players at the Kruger National Park. “Elephants and rhinos are a natural resource which needs to be preserved for future generations in the country”, said General Zuma.

South Africa Today – South Africa News

SOURCESouth African Police Service