Two North West men, Stephen Maqoboza and Motsamai Masigo, appeared along with AB Steyn and Dawie Groenewald in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Wednesday, October 9.

Maqoboza and Masigo were arrested in Mahikeng in October 2021 for their involvement in the illegal possession and selling of 19 rhino horns, valued at R2.6m, that big game hunter Steyn and game trader Groenewald were arrested for in Mbombela on July 21, 2021.

While Masigo is self-employed, Maqoboza is understood to be a government-employed biodiversity professional.

The duo originally appeared in the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court, also on charges of contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Nemba) 10 of 2004, but their case was joindered with Steyn and Groenewald’s, meaning their appearances are now together in Mbombela.

What was meant to be pretrial conference on Wednesday turned out to be an application for further postponement to January 22 due to a change in legal representation and a subsequent request for further documentation from the State.

While Steyn is still represented by Adv JJ Venter, Groenewald is now represented by Adv Sibusiso Radebe, private legal counsel, who also represents Maqoboza and Masigo.

The arrests were the result of a multidisciplinary operation led by the Hawks’ wildlife trafficking counter-intelligence unit.

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Falling under the ambit of Schedule 5 offences, which also include murder, indecent assault, rape, corruption, extortion, forgery and theft to the value of R500 000, as well as dealing in or smuggling of firearms, if convicted, a first offender could face a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment. All four suspects are currently out on bail of R50 000.

Prior to their appearance on Wednesday, Groenewald became irate when this journalist photographed him without his permission as he arrived at court. He asked to see her press card and then insisted the media needed to obtain permission to photograph him.

However, the media is only required to apply for photographic permission if taking photographs inside the court building – an arduous process at the best of times that has previously resulted in journalists’ cameras being locked up in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court safe for the duration of proceedings.

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