Hard work and dedication lead to prosecution of two poachers
The rangers had had an encounter with three poachers in February, and two of these were sentenced in the Skukuza Regional Court on November 5.
On February 24, field rangers from the Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge sections reacted to a visual of three armed suspects who entered the Kruger National Park (KNP) by crossing the international boundary between South Africa and Mozambique.
During that follow-up, the field rangers reported a gunshot and subsequently made contact with the three armed suspects.
One suspect was wounded in the left hand and a second suspect was arrested. The third managed to flee back to Mozambique.
The arrested suspects were identified as Jordan Samuel Mathonsi and Gorge Masangu (wounded in the left hand). Both were Mozambican nationals.
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A hunting rifle, ammunition as well as two fresh rhino horns were recovered during the arrest. Later on, the horns were linked with DNA to a scene discovered afterwards in the Crocodile Bridge section.
Both accused pleaded guilty in the Skukuza Regional Court and were sentenced on Friday November 5 as follows:
Count 1: Trespassing in a national park – three years’ imprisonment
Count 2: Illegal immigration – one year’s imprisonment
Count 3: Hunting of rhinoceros in a national park – 10 years’ imprisonment
Count 4: Possession of an unlicensed firearm – five years’ imprisonment
Count 5: Possession of unlicensed ammunition – two years’ imprisonment
Count 6: Possession of a prohibited firearm (no serial number) – six years’ imprisonment.
The sentence on count 1 and 2 are to run concurrently with the sentence on count 3, while the sentence on count 4 and 5 are to run concurrently with that of count 6. This comes to an effective sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment.
The SAPS management under the leadership of the provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, welcomed the sentencing and applauded the sterling work and commitment displayed by the Skukuza Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit.
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“I am delighted and impressed by the hard work displayed by these members. They should keep it up so that we can save and protect our endangered species.
“Were we unable to protect it, our children will not have the opportunity to see them.”
