A convicted rhino poacher has been sentenced to an effective 28 years’ direct imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court for a series of rhino poaching-related offences committed in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

According to the Mpumalanga National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, 44-year-old Sifiso Mbuyane was convicted on eight counts, including trespassing in the KNP, killing two rhinos, conspiracy to commit an offence, possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing a crime, possession of ammunition, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

According to Nyuswa, rangers from the Pretoriuskop section of the KNP were conducting patrols on January 17, 2017, when they heard gunshots.

“The rangers immediately responded and, during their search, spotted three suspects fleeing the area at high speed. Along the route of pursuit, they discovered a freshly killed rhino carcass with its horns removed,” said Nyuswa.

She said the rangers continued tracking the suspects for about four kilometres before finding Mbuyane and his two accomplices allegedly busy dehorning another rhino.

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“Upon noticing the rangers, Mbuyane allegedly pointed a firearm at them, prompting the rangers to open fire. His two accomplices managed to flee the scene,” she added.

During the investigation, rangers recovered two bags containing rhino horns, a firearm with ammunition, and a dangerous weapon.

Mbuyane was arrested and later released on bail. During the trial, he pleaded not guilty but was convicted on all charges.

The state prosecutor, Lot Mgiba, presented testimony from rangers, DNA evidence linking the rhino horns found in Mbuyane’s possession to the carcasses discovered at the crime scene, and ballistic evidence confirming that the bullet recovered from one of the carcasses had been fired from the firearm found in his possession.

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Nyuswa further revealed that Mbuyane is also facing another pending rhino poaching case allegedly committed while he was out on bail in this matter.

In that case, he appears alongside co-accused Sydwell Mgiba and Sithembiso Bulunga on charges relating to the killing of three rhinos in the Pretoriuskop section in 2015.

The court sentenced Mbuyane to:

• Two years for trespassing,
• Ten years on each count of killing a rhino,
• Four years for conspiracy to commit an offence,
• Six years for possession of a firearm,
• Five years for possession of a firearm to commit a crime,
• Two years for possession of ammunition, and
• One year for possession of a dangerous weapon.

Some of the sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 28 years’ direct imprisonment. Mbuyane was also declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act.