Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Sydney Petros Mabuza was gunned down in Hazyview near Kruger National Park on Thursday.
Sydney Petros Mabuza. Credit: @WorldAnimalNews
Mabuza, also known as “Mr Big”, has been in and out of court since 2018 for trading in rhino horn and other charges. At the time of the shooting he was out on bail.
A still from a video on social media showing Mabuza’s bullet riddled car.
His car, a Ford Ranger, was found riddled with 17 bullet holes. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi confirmed that Mabuza was shot and killed around 1pm on Thursday. Police are investigating the incident and are also investigating a case of attempted murder after a passer-by, an elderly woman, was shot and wounded during the shooting.
Hlathi asked potential witness to contact the Hazyview police station or to call the police hotline 0800-010-111 if they have any information about the incident.
Video material has surfaced appearing to show the shooting, as well as the scene moments afterwards.
VIDEO https://t.co/6iTA6Xa0a5 pic.twitter.com/UmBAa067zO
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) June 17, 2021
Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Sydney Petros Mabuza known as “Mr Big” has been shot dead in Hazyview Mpumalanga. pic.twitter.com/5JQquKnNuc
— Mweli Masilela (@mwelimasilela) June 17, 2021
The day after the shooting, a rhino poacher was sentenced to 23 years in person and it was revealed that three others have been arrested in Kruger National Park. Read more here.
