MBOMBELA – The Care for Wild Africa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre will now be able to serve its animals even more effectively, using a vehicle that was actually used to poach one of the rhinos in the organisation’s care in 2014.
A Mazda bakkie, which was used in the poaching of Sabi, a subadult rhino at the centre, on August 8, 2014, has been forfeited and will be handed over to Ms Petronel Nieuwoudt, founder of Care for Wild.
Also read: Orphaned rhino poached at safe haven
This follows after the asset forfeiture unit of the National Prosecuting Authority recently obtained an order in the Pretoria High Court in terms of which the vehicle was declared forfeit to the victim of the poaching incident, namely Care for Wild Africa. One of the valuable services this organisation renders is looking after rhino calves which have been orphaned by poaching.
Nieuwoudt and her team were horrified by the discovery of Sabi’s dehorned carcass. His front legs had also been chopped off. The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, in conjunction with the police’s organised crime unit, conducted a thorough investigation.
Five men were arrested, including Mr Thokozani Jabulani Ngwenya, who had been working at Care for Wild, as well as Mr Kenneth Alex Mthombothi, the owner of the Mazda. Sabi’s little horns were allegedly sold for R34 000 to a Chinese national.
Also read: Five arrested for killing of orphaned rhino
An informed source told Lowvelder that one of the suspects had allegedly said Sabi didn’t even try to get away from them on the night that he was poached.
The doomed animal actually came closer, having known Ngwenya and being used to humans. “It was like shooting a dog which had been eating from your hand,” the source said.
The Mazda was seized from Mthombothi on August 21, 2014. It had apparently been used to transport the suspects, the firearm which was used to kill Sabi, and the horns.
Nieuwoudt swore an affidavit in which she requested that the Mazda be forfeited to Care for Wild. She stated that, as a result of the poaching of Sabi, the centre was forced to improve security. It employed security guards to conduct regular patrols.
Also read: Men who allegedly poached Sabi back in court
The Mazda will be used to conduct these patrols as it is perfectly suited to the rugged terrain of the farm. It will also be used to facilitate day-to-day tasks at the centre, like the transportation of feed and medicine for the infant rhinos.
Nieuwoudt stated that Care for Wild is a registered non-profit rehabilitation organisation that is dependent upon donations.
The criminal case against the suspects is ongoing and they will appear in court again on February 19.
