Two suspects are due to appear in the Lenyenye Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 16 January 2018, after they were arrested for alleged rhino poaching during a multidisciplinary operation involving field rangers, visible policing members and the Giyani Cluster K9 unit officers on Monday 15 January 2018.
The suspects allegedly trespassed into a private game farm in Hoedspruit on Saturday 13 January 2018, but failed to locate any rhino until they were spotted by field rangers on Monday, 15 January 2018.
The gun wielding suspects managed to escape but their freedom was only temporary. One suspect was arrested not far from the farm and led the police to where he had hidden two 375 hunting rifles, 18 live rounds of ammunition, three hunting knives and an axe. The second suspect was arrested later on at Hoedspruit CBD through the tip off from a community member.
The suspects, aged 22 and 28 years old, have been charged with Conspiracy to commit rhino poaching, Illegal Possession of firearm as well as possession of dangerous weapons.
The Cluster Commander of Giyani Major General Mbhazima Ngobeni has applauded the community members who alerted the police about the whereabouts of a suspect who was wanted. He said policing is a joint venture and if police and communities work together criminals will be isolated and rooted out of the society.
“I appeal to every member of our communities to provide the police with information that may lead to the resolving of cases so that we can ensure that justice is served at all times. No information is too small to provide and as police we shall treat every information with the confidentiality it deserves”, said Major General Ngobeni.
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