GROBLERSDAL – A CONVICTED rhino poacher is languishing in jail for alleged crimes in what is believed by police to be one of the most organised rhino poaching syndicate in the country.
Alberto Maluti (40) from Mabopane, Gauteng North, appeared before the Groblersdal magistrate’s court last Wednesday for the final day of his trial where he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
The four were arrested on the N11 road next to the small town of Marble hall on November 3 2013 for possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Marble Hall police spokesperson, Const Lethunya Muroa said: “We strongly believe that the suspects are involved in a rhino poaching syndicate that has been slaying rhinos for their horns.”
Maluti was granted R10 000 bail while the case continued, until his sentencing.
Mozambican national, David Anthony and Arthur Mashaba, were later released as they were not linked to the crime.
Another Mozambican native, Elias Manyique, was refused bail because he had no passport. The men were in possession of a hunting rifle, a silencer, ammunition and an axe.
The weapons were suspected to have been used in the slaying of rhinos. At the time of their arrests, the suspects were driving two cars: a grey Toyota Hilux twin cab and blue BMW sedan. Two of them were released as they were not linked to the case. Maluti and Manyique were linked to the case.
South Africa has lost a record number of rhinos in 2014 as big animals across Africa were relentlessly poached to meet the rising demand for horn and ivory in newly affluent Asian countries.
South Africa is the centre of the rhino crisis as it is home to close to 20 000, or over 90%, of the world’s population of the animals.
Government figures for 2014 show that by mid-November 1 020 of the animals had been killed for their horns.
