PRETORIUSKOP –  Abednigo Manzini (32), a ranger at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park (KNP), was arrested on Tuesday for rhino poaching. He was one of a party of three poachers and was arrested after being wounded in the shoulder.

He was treated in Matikwane Hospital. This happened in the Pretoriuskop Section of the KNP.

Another drowned after jumping into the Nsikazi River just outside the KNP near Numbi Gate. A third suspect made good his escape and is still being sought.

The body of the one who drowned was yesterday retrieved at about 13:00 by police divers within a hour from their arriving despite the water being ice cold and muddy. Captain Pottie Potgieter from the White River police diving team said that he did not see any crocodiles in the river at the time but “I am sure they were there.”

The suspect joined the two ranger officers who were arrested over the weekend namely Sibusiso Mahlawule (26) and Enous Mabunda (44) for an appearance before the Skukuza Magistrate court yesterday and faced a charge of rhino poaching. The suspects were denied bail and reminded in custody. The case is postponed to 8 July at Bushbuckridge Magistrate Court for formal bail application.

This bring to total four rangers and a KNP employee from technical services arrested in the past few days (since June 8) for rhino poaching.

* Two SANParks rangers were arrested on Saturday in Skukuza for alleged rhino poaching.

* These arrests follows closely on the suspension of two field rangers attached to the Special Operations unit in Skukuza on June 8, as well as the arrest of a field ranger based at Satara and a technical services supervisor based at Skukuza.