Former Kruger ranger accused of poaching rhino appears in court

“There was never any bad blood between us. I had always hoped that Landela would one day take over as chief ranger in the Kruger National Park.”

This was the testimony of Dr Xolani Funda, general manager of Area Integrity Management at SANParks, during the final day of the State’s case against Rodney Landela – an alleged rhino poacher and former regional ranger of the world-renowned game reserve.

Landela (52), once considered the ‘crown prince’ of Kruger’s ranger corps and widely viewed as the likely successor to the park’s chief ranger post, was arrested on July 27, 2016.

He was apprehended alongside state veterinary employee Kenneth Motshotsho (then also 52), following the killing and dehorning of a white rhino in the Kingfisherspruit region of the park.

Both men are facing seven charges, including one of illegal hunting.

Shortly after their arrest, Landela and Motshotsho – who worked for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Skukuza – were subjected to disciplinary hearings and dismissed.

During their recent court appearance, both accused wore masks. Landela sat hunched over, staring at the floor for most of the two-day hearing.

At the time of his arrest, Landela had been with SANParks for 15 years. He began his career in 2001 as a general worker and rose steadily through the ranks to become a highly respected ranger, particularly for his work protecting rhinos.

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In recognition of his dedication, Landela was admitted to the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa (GRAA) in 2008 and was even nominated for a committee position.

But his once-illustrious career crumbled within moments of allegedly killing a rhino, removing its horns, and fleeing from his fellow rangers.

Over the past nine years, the court has heard extensive testimony. Rangers reported hearing three gunshots, followed by hacking sounds near Satara. They saw two individuals – one in a green ranger uniform – fleeing in a white bakkie.

It was later confirmed that the fleeing figures were Landela and Motshotsho.

Witnesses testified that the same vehicle returned a short while later, with both men inside. Landela, still wearing bloodied boots, exited the vehicle. Motshotsho then drove towards Satara Camp, allegedly on Landela’s instruction.

Upon his return, rangers searched the bakkie and discovered two pairs of bloodied shoes and an axe hidden in the rear.

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A search of the surrounding area led to the recovery of a .375 hunting rifle – issued to Landela – along with two freshly severed rhino horns stashed in the veld.

Both men were arrested by one of Landela’s own subordinates, Sergeant Lucky Ndlovu.

At one point, a SANParks helicopter that had flown Funda in from Lower Sabie conducted an aerial search amid suspicions that another rhino had been poached. No second carcass was found.

During the final day of the State’s presentation, Warrant Officer Praisegod Ngcoya, a microbiology expert from the police forensic lab in Pretoria, testified that several evidence bags contained items such as a ranger’s uniform, brown boots, a bloodied cloth and an axe.

Although no human blood was found, Ngcoya collected epithelial cells. DNA analysis confirmed a match with the accused.

The State prosecutor, Adv Lot Mgiba, formally closed the prosecution’s case on Thursday, June 26.

The accused spent more than 16 months behind bars after initially being denied bail. They have consistently pleaded not guilty and declined to make any admissions.

On November 30, 2017, Judge President Francis Legodi (now retired) of the Mpumalanga High Court granted them bail of R20 000 each during an urgent application.

Their bail remains extended. The matter has been postponed to September 23 for the defence to present its case.

It is expected that the accused’s legal representative, Adv Mswazi Makhubela, will submit a Section 174 application under the Criminal Procedure Act. If successful, the application would see both accused discharged on the grounds that no reasonable court could convict them based on the State’s evidence alone.