LIMPOPO – Three separate incidents over the weekend led to the arrest of eight suspects allegedly on their way to commit rhino poaching
On Saturday, rangers on a game farm at Dwaalboom found strange tracks and called for assistance from a security company and the police. The tracks were followed and three suspects were arrested. A 416 hunting rifle, live ammunition and an axe were found in their possession.
In Hoedspruit, three more suspects were arrested in their vehicle after members of a special Rhino Task Team received information on their suspected movements. They were apprehended and a 416 hunting rifle, ammunition and axe and knives were recovered in their possession.
In the early hours of this morning, members of the same team arrested two more suspects when they were stopped in the Klaserie area of Hoedspruit where a hunting rifle and ammunition were also recovered from them.
The suspects will appear in different courts on charges of possession of unlicensed fire arms and ammunition as well as conspiracy to commit rhino poaching.
On Friday a 41-year-old man from Mozambique, Moses Moyane, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, in Bela Bela, for the shooting and dehorning of a rhino in the area on 21 March 2015. He was arrested shortly after the incident and remained in custody until his sentencing.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in the province Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba welcomed the arrests and the sentencing and stressed that this shows the intensity and urgency displayed by members of the dedicated teams not only to prevent incidents from occurring but also to ensure maximum periods of sentencing for arrested suspects.
