NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS: Wildlife poachers in Pilgrim’s Rest granted bail

Seven suspects, Godfrey Dibakoane (40), Miko Shobede (42), Sibusiso Malapane (19), Dimakatso Malepe (19), Manvoba Thabetse (27), Andrle Nkuna (24) and a 17 year-old boy, were arrested after being caught red-handed with at least 27 carcases of wild animals piled onto two bakkies in Pilgrim’s Rest on Monday December 4.

Although six of the seven were granted bail of R5 000 each, they will only be released after all of their addresses have being verified.

Lowvelder could not independently confirm which suspect was refused bail.

Also read: Wildlife poachers arrested in Pilgrim’s Rest

No fewer than 25 common and mountain reedbucks – of which the latter are an endangered species – were found on the back of the bakkies. The 12 common reedbucks were pregnant.

During the arrest, a .223 Remington hunting rifle and a .243 Windsor rifle was found on the suspects.

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One of the rifles belongs to Dibakoane, a senior official of Eskom. Lazaras Muthimba, the spokesperson for Eskom, said they take the allegations against Dibakoane very seriously, but will only take appropriate action once the court case is finalised.

He did say whether Dibakoane would be suspended while the court case is running.

The case was postponed until December 18 when the suspects appear in the Graskop Magistrate’s Court again..