‘Poaching’ court back on track

SKUKUZA: REOPENS AFTER COURT BATTLE OVER CLOSURE

Rhino horn worth R53m is found in cargo destined for Malaysia.

Atedious and frustrating battle to reopen the Skukuza Regional Court has succeeded, South African National Parks (SANParks) announced yesterday.

The court was closed by Mpumalanga Regional Court president Naomi Engelbrecht in August 2019 as she wanted the court to be moved to Mhala Court, almost 100km from Skukuza.

Among the reasons for this was the claim that the court building had not been proclaimed a legitimate court. After the closure, a battle ensued between Engelbrecht and Mpumalanga High Court Judge President Francis Legodi. Legodi, who is Engelbrecht’s superior, instructed her to reverse her decision, but this was ignored.

Engelbrecht’s decision was also opposed by National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi.

A full bench supported Legodi’s motion for the case to be reviewed and Engelbrecht’s decision was declared invalid on Monday.

Legodi and the conservation community believe the court’s location in Skukuza is important as it is in close proximity to wildlife crime. The court in its heyday boasted a 99.8% rhino poaching conviction rate and 100% success rate in opposing bail applications.

Managing executive of the Kruger National Park Gareth Coleman said SANParks looked forward to operations resuming at the court. SANParks said the court had been refurbished and that cases would be heard there soon.

The need for a court renowned for rhino poaching convictions is central to the fight against this crime. Although figures dropped 33% last year, the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions has resulted in a surge of wildlife crime.

Yesterday, rhino horn worth R53 million was found in a shipment destined for Malaysia by the SA Revenue Service customs unit.

The cargo declared as “HP cartridge developers” was flagged by a detection dog at OR Tambo International Airport. The shipment contained 18 pieces of rhino horn concealed in clothing.

Between July last year and this month, 227.30kg of rhino horn worth R234 114,206 has been found at OR Tambo.

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