Poaching accused says they were assaulted by SAPS and SANParks officials
Mabunda and Shakes' defence attorney, Ms Hettie Groenewald, said they were in severe pain and required further medical attention
WHITE RIVER – A dramatic scene unfolded in the local Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as three SANParks employees appeared on charges relating to rhino poaching. Two of them could barely walk to the dock and fell into their seats, clutching their heads between their hands.
Their defence attorney explained they would testify that they had been brutally assaulted by police and SANParks officials during their arrest on Sunday. Mr Laurence Baloyi (42) – section ranger of Lower Sabie, Mr André Mabunda (42) – a field guide and Mr Shakes Baloyi (46) – a gardener, were apprehended by chance on Sunday.
Police officials and SANParks rangers had been visiting poaching scenes in the Lower Sabie area to collect evidence when they heard two shots being fired at about 10:00. The team consisted of WO Willie Broodryk, WO Linda Scholtz, Capt Lanky Lankaser, Sgt Rassie Erasmus and Mr Oupa Manzini. “We were working on one carcass when we heard a gunshot. A second shot followed soon after,” Broodryk, who is the commanding officer of the detective branch at Skukuza, said.
They had been flying with the SAPS helicopter and, with air surveillance to their advantage, decided to investigate immediately. “We took off and spotted a carcass about three kilometres from where we had been working,” Broodryk said. They circled above the area, but couldn’t see any suspects. They had already started dehorning the carcass, but were obviously disturbed by the approaching helicopter and made a run for it.
It landed and Broodryk and Manzini attempted to follow tracks. SANParks’ airwing was also summoned to the scene. A SANParks ranger and his tracking dog, Killer, which has apprehended several suspected rhino poachers before, also arrived at the scene. Killer came to the rescue yet again as he sniffed out two suspects shortly thereafter where they were hiding in the bushes.
They were later identified as Mabunda and Shakes. A .458 calibre hunting rifle and ammunition were found on them. Axes which they had allegedly used in the dehorning operation, were found next to the carcass.
One of the suspects allegedly told investigators that Laurence had transported them with his vehicle and he too was arrested later that day. It later also came to light that the rifle used to poach the rhino allegedly belonged to Laurence. Broodryk and his team had to dehorn the rhino and the horns are now in safekeeping.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Mr De Wet Oosthuizen in a packed court. Mabunda and Shakes’ defence attorney, Ms Hettie Groenewald, said they were in severe pain and required further medical attention. “They have been at the hospital already, but will need further care,” Groenewald stated.
Senior state advocate Ms Isabet Erwee then indicated to the court that she was aware of the allegations and that the suspects had been advised to lay criminal charges against the relevant officials. Groenewald and Erwee had a disagreement as Groenewald wanted the case to stand down so that the accused could visit a district physician in order for a J88 to be completed. A J88 is an official police document used to indicate injuries on a victim or accused.
Erwee stated that the accused had no visible marks on their faces or hands on which Groenewald said she (Groenewald) was not a doctor. She insisted that they visit a physician in order for a J88 to be completed. Oosthuizen asked Mabunda and Shakes to look up and concurred that they had no visible marks, but agreed that the matter be postponed so that they could receive the necessary medical attention and a J88 be completed. The case against them was postponed to October 3.
