Lengthy jail terms for rhino poachers
Three poachers killed one black and two white rhinos in the Kruger National Park. They were sentenced today, January 17.
The Skukuza Regional Court has convicted and sentenced three Mozambican nationals today, January 17, to various jail terms after they were found guilty of poaching-related offences.
Lawrence Makamu (28), George Miyanga (48) and Nulo Burro (31) were convicted of trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit illegal poaching, the killing of a black rhino, two counts of the killing of a white rhino, possession of ammunition, and possession of two hunting knives.
ALSO READ: Robbery executed in Mbombela
On June 30, 2022, the trio illegally entered the Kruger National Park using the Malelane Section and killed a black rhino.
They did not exit the park until July 1 when rangers heard gunshots in the Malelane Section and started searching for the suspects using a helicopter. The rangers found another two dead white rhinos, continued with the search and found Makamu, Miyanga and Burro hiding and in possession of six fresh rhino horns, firearms, two hunting knives and four live rounds of ammunition. They were arrested.
In court, the trio pleaded guilty and state prosecutor, Lot Mgiba, led evidence of DNA-positive results linking the suspects to the carcasses of a black rhino that was killed on June 30, 2022. A ballistic report confirming that the rhino horns that were found in their possession were of the two white rhinos, was presented as well.
ALSO READ: Limpopo SAPS offers reward for information on murder
In aggravation of the sentence, the court took into consideration that the suspects did not kill only white rhinos, but also a black rhino which is regarded as a critically endangered species.
The court considered that Miyanga had a previous conviction of illegal poaching and was he sentenced to an effective 33 years imprisonment while Makamu and Burro were sentenced to 22 years direct imprisonment.
