Rangers trigger happy - lawyer
MBABANE – “It is clear that game rangers are trigger-happy anytime they see someone close to nature reserves.”
This was said by Attorney Sabelo µChicken’ Dlamini yesterday when making submissions after his client, Thula Mnisi and his three children, escaped death when three gunshots were fired towards them by Malolotja Game rangers. This was after they had been found in possession of a bush buck without a licence.
The gunshots fired by the rangers re sulted in one of the accused poacher’s children sustaining leg injuries.
Suspecting
The child is a minor and currently doing Form I.
He was on board a motor vehicle driven by his father at Mnyokane, a few metres away from the game re serve. The father was being chased by rangers after suspecting he might have committed an offence at the reserve. The incident happened on May , 0 3. The trial was before Magistrate ;olile 1[umalo.
Mnisi’s attorney told the court that it was not the first time for game rangers to shoot and kill people found inside or close to nature reserves, hunting illegally. He said such cases had been published in the media.
“It is clear that Mondli Dlamini (one of Malolotja Game rangers) and his team can shoot at anyone as they please. Something needs to be done about this problem. It shows that what they are doing is against the Constitu tion,” said the lawyer.
He further submitted that Mondli had previously failed to come out clear on whether the bush buck, which was in the possession of the accused per son, was indeed killed inside Malolot ja Game Reserve. He said because of that, the game rangers did something which was uncalled for.
According to the lawyer, Mnisi’s three children were left traumatised after the shooting, to the e[tent that two of the minors who did not sustain injuries were currently undergoing counselling sessions. He revealed that they only get to nap during the day as they are unable to sleep at night.
He further said the third minor was taken to hospital every Tuesday for medical check ups and his father was the one paying the medical bills. The minor was presented before court during the trial. He could not walk properly and was assisted by family members.
“These minors cannot sleep at night because of what they e[perienced,” stated the lawyer.
Also, due to the alleged game rangers’ negligence, the attorney submitted that his client lost two dogs (greyhounds) valued at E 0 000 after being shot at by the rangers. He also stated that the same rangers damaged the van’s engine when firing gunshots at it.
Expensive
“A Greyhound is e[pensive. At times you are e[pected to fork out E50 000 just to get one of such dogs,” said Sabelo.
Prior, Mondli, who has been a game ranger for years, told the court that he, Sipho Simelane and Sithembiso Zwane saw dogs inside Malolotja Game Reserve in pursuit of some thing.
He said this brought suspicion that there might be someone hunting.
“:hile still being suspicious, we then saw a man carrying something which was not clear as to what e[actly it was. :e had to follow him as he made his way out of Malolotja Game Reserve towards a bakkie that was parked a few metres away from the game reserve,” said Mondli.
According to the game ranger, they then saw the accused person offload ing something at the back of his motor vehicle before driving off. He also stated that the shot dogs belonged to the accused person. He said they got into their own car and drove after the accused person’s car to find out what he was carrying.
“Our aim was to reach the accused person before he reached the main road at Malunda, but this never hap pened. :e found them at Mnyokane after firing a warning shot. He then stopped. :e searched his car and came across the bush buck, rope and knobkerrie,” narrated Mondli.
Mondli also said while they contin ued inspecting the motor vehicle, they came across three minors seated at the back of the bakkie with one of them already injured in his foot.
However, Mondli failed to come out clear as to who shot at Mnisi’s van, resulting in the minor being hit by a bullet. This was after he was asked by the lawyer to name the person who shot at the car.
In response, Mondli told the court that three gunshots were fired towards the accused.
The ranger told the court that after coming across the injured minor, they then dialed the emergency number
, seeking medical assistance but no help was forthcoming.
Mondli said they went on to contact the police but were told to bring both the accused and the injured minor to the police station, which they did. The minor was then taken to hospital.
Accused
Meanwhile, the Crown appealed to the court that the accused person be found guilty of the charge of poach ing, as he failed to provide docu ments which allowed him to practice hunting.
In mitigation of sentence, the ac cused person’s attorney pleaded with the court to e[ercise leniency since Mnisi was a married man with si[ children. The lawyer told the court that his client was a breadwinner.
Mnisi was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E4 000. However, E3 000 was suspended by Magistrate 1[umalo.