The Van Deventer brothers, Nicolaas (56) and Gideon (53), appeared in the Giyani Magistrate’s Court to face charges of conspiracy to hunt rhinos; the illegal hunting, killing and dehorning of a rhino bull; the possession of rhino horns; the selling of rhino horns; trespassing and the unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to a statement by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the duo pleaded guilty to the charges and they were sentenced to 54 and 44 years’ imprisonment respectively.

The Daily Maverick states the charges also stem from shooting a cow and her calf at a Witpoort farm, as well as a shooting incident at the Polokwane Game Reserve in December 2016, where they dehorned a rhino.

Malabi-Dzhangi explained the duo, who have been investigated for rhino poaching as part of the ‘Boere-renostermafia’, were arrested on January 6, 2017, for offences they committed between December 2016 and January 2017.

“On the day of their arrest, they were found throwing a rhino horn from the window of their bakkie while they were pursued by police along the Vivo and Makhado road in Limpopo. The accused were in custody for five years, waiting for their trial to be finalised,” she said.

Malabi-Dzhangi added that advocate Norman Makuvele called senior SANParks investigator Mario Scholtz to testify in aggravation of the sentence.

“Scholtz testified that the syndicate the brothers are part of, hunt and smuggle rhino horns. He also testified that the accused are hunters and dealers. He mentioned the statistics of the depleting rhino population due to poaching, as well as the impact it has on conservation and the economy,” she explained.

Makuvele told the court that the duo have made headlines for rhino poaching on numerous occasions. “He told the court they first made the headlines in KwaZulu-Natal 10 years ago when they were caught poaching rhinos in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. They again made headlines after they were found in possession of rhino horns in the Bela-Bela area,” Malabi-Dzhangi added and said Makuvele mentioned several adults and calves were shot and left to die.

Makuvele asked the court to impose a harsh sentence as they have countless previous convictions related to environmental issues and rhino poaching.

Malabi-Dzhangi said the NPA welcomed the sentence. “We hope that the sentence will deter other would-be offenders and applaud the good work of the police.”