POLOKWANE – Dawie Groenewald, who faces more than 1 600 charges related to rhino poaching, is expected to appear in court again – despite currently being allowed international travel under his bail conditions.

Groenewald and his co-accused last appeared in the Limpopo High Court in October 2024.

Although the case was set down for two weeks, it was postponed again due to ongoing interlocutory applications. He faces charges in two separate cases in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, including money laundering, racketeering, illegal hunting, and dealing in rhino horn.

Local media in Botswana reported that Groenewald is currently involved in wildlife operations there.

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Despite the severity of the charges, his bail conditions permit him to leave South Africa with approval from investigators.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Limpopo spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed that Groenewald is scheduled to return to court on February 9, 2026.

“He can leave the country with the arrangements of the investigator,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.

Groenewald was in South Africa in August 2025, when he appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in connection with his 2021 arrest.

He and co-accused Schalk Steyn were reportedly found with 19 rhino horns. That case is scheduled for November 10.

Controversy continues to follow Groenewald abroad.

Botswana-based publications The Sunday Standard and The Tuesday Grill recently reported on an alleged cover-up involving Groenewald, a former Botswana cabinet minister and a local community trust.

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According to these reports, Groenewald had been seeking a hunting permit in Botswana since 2023.

In November 2024, he was granted a licence by the Tcheku Community Trust, but this was revoked after backlash from local stakeholders. Tcheku board member Alex Semayemba told The Tuesday Grill, “Groenewald was given a licence, then it was taken back because we were told he is a wildlife criminal”.

Groenewald reportedly signed the original agreement as a representative of DK Superior (Pty) Ltd.

Following its cancellation, a company named DK Superior Botswana – said to be linked to the former cabinet minister – took over the permit. That licence has reportedly remained in use throughout 2025.

Questions were sent last week by The Citizen to Botswana’s tourism department, but no response had been received by the time of publication.