No spike in KNP-employees arrested for poaching
A total of five SANParks employees have been arrested for alleged rhino poaching this month.
PRETORIUSKOP – “This is not a spike in KNP rangers and employees being arrested. Quite a few have been arrested over the years because of our strategy of looking inwards.
In our recent investigations we have narrowed the gap and that is why so many have been apprehended,” explained Mr William Mabasa, acting head of communications, SANParks.
Mabasa commented on a total of five SANParks employees who have been arrested for alleged rhino poaching this month.
A suspected rhino poacher drowned in a river in the Kruger National Park (KNP) when trying to escape rangers who pursued him and his two accomplices on Tuesday. One of the two, a field ranger stationed at Skukuza, was wounded and apprehended and the other managed to escape.
The ranger is Mr Abednigo Manzini (32). He was recuperating in Matikwane Hospital after he was shot in the shoulder.
Police divers stationed at White River were summoned to the river near Numbi Gate on Wednesday to retrieve the body of the other suspect and Capt Pottie Potgieter, commander of the unit and his colleagues, braved the icy cold and muddy water.
Two other Kruger rangers were arrested for suspected poaching last weekend. Mr Sibusiso Mahlawule (26) and Mr Enous Mabunda (44) appeared in court on Wednesday with Manzini.
The case was postponed to July 8 and they will remain in custody until they bring a formal bail application to the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court.
These arrests followed that of a field ranger based at Satara and a technical services supervisor of Skukuza, who were arrested for alleged poaching on June 8.
Mabasa stated he believed any organisation could be infiltrated by criminals who have the capacity.
“The weak ones will be in any organisation. With us the situation will continue as long as there is rhino poaching. An employee clean-up is not a specific action with us at present but part of an ongoing complex strategy.”
When asked what his opinion was on visitors to the Kruger feeling that the very people at the heart of conservation who should be aiding in protecting our heritage, are succumbing to greed, Mabasa replied that it is not only in the world of conservation, that criminals are found.
“Rhino poaching is not unique. Crime is happening everywhere. It is what you do to combat it, that counts. We have a comprehensive strategy. We are committed at SANParks as employees to the cause of conservation and primary protection of our heritage,” he said.
