A multidisciplinary approached crime intelligence led operation, yielded much anticipated results, following the arrest of five suspects linked to rhino poaching in the John Taolo Gaetsewe Cluster, on Saturday, 27 October 2018.
The South African Police members from Northern Cape and Vryburg in North West Provinces joint forces comprising of Kuruman Highway Patrol, Stock Theft Unit, Visible Policing, K9 Unit and Crime Intelligence Unit. Members acted on intelligence regarding suspected poachers on a farm in Severn near Kuruman.
Members conducted waylay duties, worked around the clock, over the weekend to secure the farm which the poachers had intended to execute criminal activities on. Further intelligence led the police to raid the suspects’ house in Bankhara near Kuruman.
Upon searching the house and further investigation, five suspects were arrested, an assault rifle was found hidden inside the house and was confiscated after the suspects failed to produce a licence to possess a firearm.
The suspects are facing a charge of illegal possession of a firearm, and they could be possibly linked with a case of illegal hunting, where rhinos were dehorned near Severn earlier in August this year.
Our preliminary investigation indicated that, some of the suspects are wanted in the Eastern Cape for cases related to poaching and illegal hunting. The suspects are expected to appear before the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court soon on a charge of illegal possession of a firearm.
Lieutenant General Peter Risimati Shivuri, is thrilled by the level of participation by the community members in the fight against crime. “We shall win the war against crime, when stronger partnership between the police and communities is built on trust and commitment, he said”
South Africa Today – South Africa News
