Raphael Ngobeni (42) has pleaded guilty to seven charges after entering Kruger National Park with a hunting rifle.

The Skukuza Regional Court handed Ngobeni an effective 10-year direct imprisonment sentence following his conviction on all counts.

The court heard that on April 1, the Kruger National Park technical surveillance team detected suspicious activity in the Houtboschrand area. Field rangers deployed to the scene confronted two armed suspects, prompting a shoot-out.

Ngobeni sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during the encounter and was arrested on site. His alleged accomplice managed to flee the scene and remains at large.

Ngobeni was remanded in custody following his arrest and subsequently pleaded guilty to all seven counts during his trial.

According to the Mpumalanga spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, the state prosecutor, Lot Mgiba, led evidence that included ballistic reports regarding the hunting rifle and testimony from Home Affairs officials confirming Ngobeni’s unlawful status in South Africa.

Court details sentence breakdown

The court sentenced Ngobeni as follows:

• Two years for trespassing
• One year for the contravention of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002
• Four years for conspiracy to commit an offence
• Six years for the possession of a firearm
• Four years for the possession of a firearm to commit a crime
• Two years for the possession of ammunition
• One year for the possession of a dangerous weapon

“The court ordered the sentences for conspiracy, possession of a firearm to commit a crime, and possession of ammunition to run concurrently with the six-year firearm possession sentence. This structure results in a cumulative 10-year direct prison term,” Nyuswa said.

Ngobeni was also declared unfit to possess a firearm under the Firearms Control Act.

“Authorities have urged anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the second suspect, identified as Patrick Hlungwane, to contact law enforcement,” she said.