Police men arrested for
rhino poaching
SAPU's Joseph Manuel says
Park rangers and the Endangered Species team of the
Hawks were on their routine duties when they came across a black rhinoceros
carcass in the KNP on Tuesday morning.
28 May
2014 13:34
SKUKUZA – Three men were arrested last night in the Kruger National Park
(KNP) on charges of rhino poaching. Two SAPS members staioned in Skukuza
together with a third suspect, previously a corporal field ranger in the KNP,
were arrested as a result of a joint intelligence-driven operation between the
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) and officials of the
KNP.
Park rangers and the Endangered Species team of the Hawks were on their
routine duties when they came across a black rhinoceros carcass in the KNP on
Tuesday morning.
The team pulled a marked Skukuza police van over after receiving
information. On searching the van, a person suspected of being a poacher, who
was armed with a .375 hunting rifle and rounds of ammunition, was found. When
the constables were asked about the man and the rifle, they could not give a
satisfactory explanation and were arrested.
During the operation the rifle, ammunition, a silencer and poaching
equipment was seized.
“The SANParks and SAPS officials who affected the arrests are
congratulated for their outstanding work. The arrest sends a strong message
that officials alleged to be involved in poaching will be arrested and face the
full might of the law,” said Minister Molewa.
The Head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, Major General Simon Mapyane,
applauded the team under the stewardship of Colonel Johan Brits for work well
done. “Colonel Brits is going on pension this Friday, May 30, after serving the
police for 39 years and eight days. He is leaving a mark and has handed the
mantle to the team,” said General Mapyane.
“The suspects were tasked with the responsibility to patrol the streets
around the park and to confront suspicious vehicles. It is clear that these
members were doing the opposite,” added General Mapyane.
Both members are now facing charges of corruption and the person
suspected of being a poacher is facing charges of being in the possession of
unlicensed firearms and ammunition. They will appear in the Skukuza
Magistrates’ Court soon.
In another operation in the early hours of the May 27, rangers at
Pretoriuskop made contact with a group of suspected poachers. During the
incident, one of the suspects was fatally wounded and the remaining two managed
to escape under the cover of darkness. Poaching equipment, a .458 hunting rifle
and ammunition were recovered during the operation.
The Officer Commanding of the SANParks Rangers Corps, Major General
(retired) Johan Jooste commended all the units that were involved in the
arrests of the suspects. He added that the war was intensifying but the men and
women in uniform were certainly up to the task.
These successes follow shortly after a very successful week of SANParks
/ SAPS operations both inside and outside the Kruger. Three foreign Chinese
nationals were arrested in Gauteng on May 22 for possession and dealing in
rhino horn, whilst six suspected poachers were arrested in the surrounding
areas just outside the KNP and a further two arrested and two fatally wounded
inside the KNP.
The Park has been under tremendous pressure from poachers, as it is home
to over eighty percent of the global population of both white and black rhino
that still roam in the wild. The animals are being illegally hunted for their
horn, driven mainly by demand from South East Asia. Crime syndicates have been
identified as the main culprits in recruiting those that kill the animals.
Since January 1, 2014, the Kruger National Park has lost 272 animals to
poachers and 52 individuals have been arrested.
A total of 119 people have been arrested in connection with rhino
poaching.
Maj Gen (retired) Jooste reminded South Africans that the battle will be
won outside the reserves, when the kingpins are brought to book.
