NELSPRUIT -The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has once more acknowledged with appreciation the relentless efforts by field rangers in the fight against poaching where they work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. The sentiment by the General follows the court appearance of four alleged poachers who were arrested in two separate incidents at the Kruger National Park on Monday, 18 April 2022 and Tuesday, 19 April 2022. The four were remanded in custody during their court appearance.
According to the report, on the said Monday at about 12:00 pm, field rangers that were deployed to work at Houtboshrand Section of the Kruger National Park, spotted some human footprints which signalled possible poachers inside the park. The rangers followed the tracks with the assistance of a tracker dog and managed to corner two male suspects. Police at Skukuza were notified as such and upon their arrival at the scene of crime, the two men were arrested and charged for possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition and more charges may be added as the investigation continues. The pair was found with some items in their possession, which included a hunting rifle with its serial numbers filed-off, 8 live ammunition, as well as an axe. The suspect were identified as Raydon Zitha, aged 24 and Ernesto Zitha, aged 27. The investigation also revealed that the two men are Mozambican Nationals and had entered South Africa illegally hence they are faced with a charge if contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa. During their court appearance, the case of the two was postponed to 04 May 2022 for a formal bail hearing whilst they remain in custody.
Meanwhile on the said Tuesday at around 12:30, field rangers that were posted to work at Tshokwane Section of the Kruger National Park that day indicated that they spotted some human footprints in the area and then followed the tracks with the help of tracker dog where they too managed to arrest two male suspects who were found in possession of a hunting rifle, four (04) live ammunition and an axe. Skukuza Police were once again summoned and upon their arrival at the scene, they arrested the two men and charged them for possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition and more charges could be added as the investigation proceeds. The suspects were identified as Maxiyi Hlungwana (33) and Khensani Chauke (26). The probe so far revealed that the two suspects are originally from Mozambique and had illegally entered South Africa hence a charge of contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa was added upon them. During their court appearance at Skukuza Regional Court yesterday, Wednesday 20 April 2022, their case was postponed to 04 May 2022 as well for a formal bail hearing whilst they remained in custody.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has further expressed her satisfaction with the manner in which poaching is dealt with recently. “We are very much happy and content with the successes that we have been getting with regard to poaching and we hope that the court will do justice to these suspects” said the General.
Source: South African Police Service