Two former Kruger National Park (KNP) field rangers based in Skukuza, who planned to assist poachers to enter the park, were sentenced to prison time after they were convicted of possessing an unlicenced firearm and other poaching related items yesterday.

Hendric Eccelence Silinda (31) and Achieve Musa Mlambo (38) were arrested in 2019 after information surfaced that they were involved in poaching and Sanparks organised a sting operation.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyauswa, says on 26 February 2019, the pair were on duty when the regional rangers received information that poachers were going to enter the KNP with the assistance of the rangers.

They followed the information and went to the camp where the two officials were deployed and started searching. They found Silinda and Mlambo, in possession of a hunting rifle, seven rounds of live ammunition, a silencer, and three hunting knives.

Mpumalanga provincial spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala says Skukuza SAPS were notified and the pair was arrested.

Sanparks says in a statement, that although Silinda and Mlambo were dismissed the time, they had to be reinstated thereafter due to procedural issues and worked as general workers until the trial was finalised.

During their trial, state prosecutor Lot Mgiba, led evidence of the arresting officers who testified about how they found the hunting rifle hidden in their tent. Senior rangers also testified that the rifle that was in the pair’s possession, does not belong to Sanparks.

Yesterday, the duo was found guilty and sentenced to five years imprisonment for possession of an unlicenced firearm, six years imprisonment for possession of a prohibited firearm because the serial number had been filed off, two years for the possession of unlicenced ammunition and one year imprisonment for possession of a dangerous weapon.

The court ordered that some of the sentences were to be served concurrently, sending them to an effective seven years behind bars.

The managing executive of the KNP, Dr Danny Govender, says they are happy with the sentence as it demonstrates that the criminal courts are working well.

“This has been a long road and our colleagues should be aware of our zero tolerance to corruption,” he warned.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Mpumalanga SAPS, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela welcomes the sentencing and appreciated the collaboration by Sanparks, SAPS investigators, the prosecution team and the judiciary.

“This sentence should send a clear message to those who might think of carrying out criminal activities whilst working as one of the law enforcement agencies. The time to do that is over and perpetrators will soon be exposed like the two rangers” warns Manamela.

Nyuswa says the NPA welcomes the conviction and sentence, with the hope it will address the fight against poaching in the country.