Dawie Groenewald to court in Feb 2026 for rhino poaching
Dawie Groenewald and his co-accused face more than 1 600 charges involving racketeering, money laundering, the illegal hunting of rhino and dealing in rhino horn.
POLOKWANE – After 14 years since their arrest, Limpopo game farmer Dawie Groenewald and his co-accused will again appear in the Limpopo High Court on February 9, 2026 to stand trial on more than 1 600 charges involving racketeering, money laundering, the illegal hunting of rhino and dealing in rhino horn.
Groenewald and his co-accused appeared in the Limpopo High Court on Monday in the matter that was set down for two weeks and spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that the case was remanded again pending finalisation of interlocutor applications.
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Groenewald and nine others were arrested in September 2010 and appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court where the case was remanded until April 11, 2011 with Groenewald being released on bail of R1m and his wife, Sariette on R100 000.
The other accused, who included two veterinary surgeons, a pilot and professional hunters, were released on bail ranging from R20 000 to R50 000.
The charges against Sariette were later withdrawn.
The case was thereafter heard in the Northern Gauteng High Court and after a number of postponements, transferred to the Limpopo High Court during October 2023.
When the accused appeared in Gauteng during 2022, judge Hennie de Vos ruled that the case be remanded awaiting the outcome of a ruling in the Constitutional Court confirming the lifting of South Africa’s moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn.
Some of the charges were then dropped and the accused were served with an amended charge sheet.
They have not as yet pleaded to the charges. When judge Bert Bam presided during 2021 he made it clear that he wanted answers as to why the trial had been delayed for so long.
“This case has been dragging its heels for very long. I want to know what the delays are and what is going to be done to streamline the process,” he said.
