Poacher jailed after horrific video went viral
Video evidence of his animal cruelty was shown in court.
MBOMBELA – The white rhino’s face was gone. Deep gashes remained where its horns, one eye, nose and mouth had been. Chunks of flesh had been ripped from its head and blood gushed from the slaughtered animal.
It was still alive, yet clearly disorientated and in agonising pain.
Stripped of its nose and mouth, it helplessly lifted its head. Cries of pain could be heard.
Rangers euthanised the rhino.
The man responsible for the animal’s mutilation was arrested two years and three months ago.
Vhandalane Makhubela’s trial concluded on Tuesday. He will spend 16 years behind bars.
His two accomplices have still not been tracked down.
Spokesman for the Skukuza police, WO Willie Broodryk explained how Makhubele was arrested and prosecuted.
On March 31, 2013, rangers spotted three suspects in the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Tshokwane area. One of them – Makhubele – was arrested and the other two escaped.
He escorted them to the rhino.
This is what they found:
(NOTE: THE VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC, UPSETTING FOOTAGE.)
The assistance of anti-poaching stakeholders and investigators was sought, and they arrived by helicopter.
A hunting rifle was confiscated and bullet casings collected from the scene. Ballistic evidence indicated that the animal was shot using a rifle found on Makhubele.
In the Nelspruit Regional Court, he was charged with trespassing into the park, illegal hunting and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
A charge of animal cruelty was added by senior state advocate, Isabet Erwee.
She used the video as evidence, stating that it attested to the cruelty of the animal’s poaching.
The magistrate, Venessa Joubert, sent Makhubele to jail for 16 years.
“The maximum sentence applicable to animal cruelty – one year’s imprisonment, formed part of the sentence,” said Broodryk.
