Two ex-rangers from Kruger National Park (KNP) have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each for their involvement in rhino poaching.
Image: Unsplash / Zoe Reeve
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The Skukuza Regional Court handed down the verdict on Friday, September 27, 2024.
Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu, formerly assigned to the Crocodile Bridge Section of KNP, were arrested in January 2019 following an intelligence-led operation.
Their arrest came after information linked them to transporting poaching suspects in the Godleni area, where two white rhino carcasses were discovered.
Evidence against the accused included vehicle tracking data placing them near the crime scene and a confession. R41,000, believed to be payment for the crime, was recovered from Sihlangu’s quarters.
The trial, which began on September 4, 2024, resulted in guilty verdicts for both former rangers.
The court found them guilty on three counts: conspiracy to commit a crime, hunting a rhinoceros in a national park, and hunting and killing a rhinoceros in a national park.
These charges led to sentences of 4, 10, and 10 years respectively. The court ordered the sentences for the first two counts to run concurrently with the third, resulting in an effective 20-year imprisonment for each defendant.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment Narend Singh commented on the sentencing, stating:
“Poachers and those funding wildlife crimes will face the full might of the law.”
Singh also commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and the National Prosecuting Authority in securing the arrests, conducting investigations, and achieving successful convictions.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat wildlife crime in South Africa’s national parks.
Report suspicious wildlife-related activities to the environmental crime hotline (0800 205 005) or the SAPS (10111).
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