Skukuza Regional Court sentences poacher to 30 years
The poacher was found in possession of five rhino horns in the Kruger National Park in July 2020, and three rhino carcases were found nearby.
The Skukuza Regional Court sentenced Sydney Sibuyi (40) to 30 years’ direct imprisonment on Thursday October 5 for poaching-related offences
According to the provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Monica Nyuswa, Sibuyi had pleaded guilty to the crime and was subsequently convicted of trespassing in the Kruger National Park (KNP), three counts of killing rhinos, and conspiracy to commit an offence.
ALSO READ: Department announces a breakthrough in the fight against rhino poaching
“On July 12, 2020, rangers of the Skukuza section of the KNP received information about three suspected poachers. They followed the lead and found Sibuyi in possession of five fresh rhino horns. They continued the search and found three rhino carcases in the vicinity. This led to Sibuyi’s arrest. The T-shirt he was wearing had bloodstains, which were taken for DNA analysis. He pleaded guilty to all the counts,” she said.
Nyuswa added that in aggravation of sentence, the state prosecutor, Lot Mgiba, presented DNA results that confirmed that the bloodstains matched the carcases at the crime scene.
ALSO READ: Alleged rhino poaching kingpin nabbed again
Sibuyi was sentenced to 30 years’ direct imprisonment. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
“As the NPA, we are pleased with the sentence. Rhino poaching endangers not only the population of targeted animals, but also other animals in their ecosystem,“ concluded Nyuswa.
