The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced 33-year-old Madala Matsane to an effective 10 years’ direct imprisonment after finding him guilty of multiple poaching-related offences committed in the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Matsane was sentenced on July 9, after being convicted on seven charges:

• Trespassing in the KNP
• Conspiracy to commit a crime
• Possession of a firearm
• Possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number
• Possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing a crime
• Possession of ammunition
• Possession of a dangerous weapon.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the charges stem from an incident on July 7, 2020, when rangers in Pretoriuskop were conducting routine patrols.

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“The rangers spotted three suspected poachers hiding in the bushes. They pursued and apprehended Matsane and his co-accused, Zintle Sifundza and Thembinkosi Nkuna,” said Nyuswa.

She added that police investigations revealed Matsane has a pending poaching case dating back to 2016, in which he was arrested alongside a police officer in Skukuza. That matter is still awaiting trial.

Nyuswa said the three accused were initially granted bail but later absconded, prompting the court to issue warrants for their arrest. Matsane was rearrested in 2023, while his two co-accused remain at large. As a result, a separation of trials was ordered.

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Although Matsane initially pleaded not guilty, he later changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for trespassing, four years for conspiracy to commit a crime, six years for possession of a firearm, eight years for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, four years for possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing a crime, two years for possession of ammunition, and one year for possession of a dangerous weapon.

The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective 10 years’ direct imprisonment. In addition to the prison sentence, the court declared Matsane unfit to possess a firearm.