SKUKUZA – Two rhino poachers appeared in the Skukuza Periodical Court on Wednesday on charges of rhino poaching, attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Their appearance stems from an incident on Tuesday at approximately 05:00, between Pretoriuskop and Berg-en-Dal in the Stolsnek area.
It is alleged that a ranger on duty heard a gunshot and called for backup. When his colleagues arrived, they combed the area and came across two fresh rhino carcasses.
They intensified their search after the discovery and managed to track down the poachers a kilometre from the scene.
Information at the police’s disposal suggests that the rangers were met by the barrel of a gun and were forced to retaliate.
One suspect was fatally wounded. When the rangers cornered the remaining two suspects, they discovered that one of them, Mr Bongani Thabethe (26), had sustained a graze wound during the skirmish. The third suspect, Mr Skhumbuzo Ndlovu (21), was unhurt. Thabethe was taken to hospital for medical attention, where he was treated and discharged on the same day.
Both suspects, Ndlovu and Thabethe, will remanded in custody until January 21, pending further investigation. A 458 hunting rifle, together with five spent cartridges, an axe and two rhino horns were seized.
