BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Mr Dennis Mkhonto (38), a former policeman, appeared in court yesterday with an employee of the Department of Health and other two co-accused, for alleged involvement in rhino poaching.
In December Lowvelder reported that charges of corruption and poaching against Mkhonto and four others were struck off the roll, after police failed to conduct their investigations timeously.
Last Tuesday his three months of freedom came to an end.
According to the Hawks’ Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi, “the policeman and three other suspects” were arrested in Skukuza. They were apparently on their way to poach rhino in the Kruger National Park.
Hawks’ spokesman, Lieut. Lucy Sekgotodi, has since identified the other three accused.
“They are Mr Goodman Ntandane (35), Mr Madala Maatsane (23) and Mr River Khoza (23) who works for the Department of Health,” she said.
Last week Mulaudzi said the four had allegedly been planning to poach rhino on Wednesday. However, their plans became known to the police’s crime intelligence unit and their vehicle was intercepted.
Although one of the accused tried to evade arrest, a member of the environmental crime investigations unit managed to track him down. According to Mulaudzi, the accused were found in possession of a .458 hunting rifle, a silencer, ammunition, nine knives, hunting knives, a saw and two-way radios.
A SANParks’ helicopter was also dispatched and a second suspicious-looking vehicle was spotted. The helicopter landed on a road and a fourth suspect was arrested, much to the jubilation of visitors to the Kruger who witnessed the scene.
According to Mulaudzi, a hunting rifle was found in his possession.
The four accused appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court on Friday. According to Sekgotodi, they were provisionally charged with the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Yesterday their bail hearing continued in this same court.
At time of going to press, the outcome had not yet known.
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