The Skukuza Regional Court on Friday sentenced Sipho Khosa (34) to 34 years in prison for two poaching incidents that occurred in 2016.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said in a statement that on September 27, 2016, an on-duty section ranger received information about two poachers who had been seen entering the Kruger National Park (KNP) through the Stolznek area.

“Other field rangers were immediately activated and a search began,” said Mohlala and added that two helicopters were deployed. The men were discovered hiding in the thick bush.

The field rangers ordered the two intruders to come out from their hiding. They complied and were captured.

The men were found in possession of two rhino horns, a hunting rifle fitted with a silencer, a magazine loaded with 11 rounds of live ammunition as well as two extra magazines, an axe and a backpack with food.

Mohlala said the police were called. The men were charged with the possession of an unlicensed hunting rifle, the illegal possession of ammunition and a dangerous weapon, trespassing into the KNP as well as for the killing of rhinos.

He said they were granted bail, but added that Khosa was arrested again less than three months later.

The police spokesperson explained that during this incident, field rangers working in the Stolznek area heard gunshots on December 4, 2016.

“They alerted their section ranger to help them investigate. A chopper was also used to help in this incident. Khosa was among three men who were captured that day after trying to run and hide in the bush. They were charged accordingly by the police, after being found in possession of a hunting rifle loaded with ammunition, a silencer, three rhino horns and an axe,” he shared and added that they were also charged for trespassing in the KNP.

Mohlala said Khosa was the only one sentenced as his co-accused in the first incident never showed up in court after being granted bail.

In the second incident, the other two accused were also granted bail, but never set foot in court again.

For both incidents, Khosa was found guilty on 12 charges that range from trespassing to the illegal killing of a rhino. A number of these sentences will run concurrently and as a result, Khosa was slapped with 34 years behind bars as well as declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela, thanked the field rangers, the SAPS team of investigators, the prosecution team and the judiciary for the individual roles they played that resulted in the ‘well-deserved sentence’.