Weapons and rhino horn their downfall
Four suspected rhino poachers appeared in court this week after a rhino was poached at a private game farm in Alldays on Friday.
POLOKWANE – Four suspected rhino poachers appeared in court this week after a rhino was poached at a private game farm in Alldays on Friday.
Three of the men appeared before the Makhado magistrate’s court after they were arrested on Friday on the game farm. The other suspect appeared before the Seshego magistrate’s court after he was arrested in Seshego on Sunday.
The suspects, aged between 36 and 41 years, remain in police custody and the case was postponed to June 18 in the Makhado magistrate’s court. The fourth suspect will be transferred to Makhado to join his co-accused.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, said the police received information that a rhino was being poached on the farm, and they responded immediately. He said the area was surrounded and a search for the poachers began. Mulaudzi added that the police and members of the Hawks worked together in finding the suspects.
The bust also yielded two rhino horns, a rifle and an axe.
“Subsequent investigations have revealed that three of the suspects are South African and one is from Mozambique. A rhino was also found dead on the farm,” Mulaudzi said.
The men face charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, poaching of a rhino, possession of rhino horns and trespassing.
