AFTER much speculation around the closely guarded incident, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube confirmed on Sunday the death of two poachers in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP).
The field staff reportedly encountered three armed suspects inside the park during the full moon on the evening of Friday, 6 March and alerted the security nerve centre in the HiP, providing details of the number of persons, grid reference and direction of the incursion.
A reaction unit was immediately briefed and dispatched and the suspects were located and challenged.
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The reaction unit defended themselves against the poachers, resulting in the fatal shooting of the two suspects.
A high calibre hunting rifle and knives – commonly used to remove rhino horns – were recovered at the scene by the South African Police Service.
One of those killed is a notorious, high-level rhino poaching suspect who was charged for the illegal possession of rhino horn in 2017.
He has also been suspected of not only being directly responsible for a number of rhino deaths, but also coordinating other Mpumalanga poaching groups to target HiP.
To-date 28 rhinos have been killed this year alone in HiP.
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