Three appear in court after rhinos killed in Kruger Park

THREE suspected rhino poachers have appeared in the Skukuza regional court and will be remanded in custody until December 4‚ after they were arrested at the Kruger National Park on Sunday.

Walter Mhangani‚ 55‚ Emmanuel Mdhuli‚ 29, and Xongani Mathebula‚ a Mozambican national whose age is unknown‚ appeared briefly before magistrate Vicey Marule.

They face charges of trespassing‚ possession of an unlicensed firearm‚ conspiracy to commit an offence‚ possession of firearms with intent to commit crime, and possession of unlicensed ammunition‚ among others. The state told the court it will oppose bail. The men allegedly killed one adult white rhino in the Watergat area, and two others in Skukuza‚ Mpumalanga‚ on Sunday. They were apprehended by rangers who heard gunshots.

“We found the horns of one animal in the possession of [the] suspects so we will link those horns and weapons to this crime scene,” SANParks senior investigator Frik Rossouw said.

“Unfortunately‚ the suspects shot two more rhinos about 2km [away]. They didn’t remove the horns because the rangers arrested them before they could.”

The police found one empty cartridge and a projectile bullet near the first rhino, and three cartridges at the scene of the others.

“I’m happy and satisfied that we will be able to at least link the horns that were found in their possession so the chances of these guys getting off [the hook] are not very good,” Rossouw said.

A police official who was at the crime scene said they found three horns in the suspects’ possession, as well as one unlicensed firearm, five unused bullets‚ a knife and an axe.

A community chief said poaching had a knock-on effect in unemployment of community members.

“I’m saddened and worried that people can be this cruel to do this to these animals,” Chief Mathibela Mokoena said.

“When tourists come to South Africa‚ all they want to see is our ‘big five’ and if one of those is being killed‚ I feel sad,” he said.

“When tourists come to our area‚ they create employment because the park employs many of our people.”