The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently paid a total amount of R8.1 million to SANParks’ Environmental Crime Investigation Unit (the ECIU). The money will be solely directed by SANparks to enhance and support their ranger corps’ capabilities with much needed equipment, training and advanced technology for their counter-poaching operations.
The North Gauteng High Court found that the money was the proceeds of rhinoceros poaching by an alleged rhinoceros poaching syndicate leader, Joseph Nyalunga, also known as “Big Joe”. Nyalunga is a former police official stationed at the Hazyview police station. Apart from the R8.1 million, a 2009 Land Rover Range Rover and a 2009 Toyota Fortuner were also declared forfeited to the State. These vehicles will be sold and the proceeds thereof will also be paid to the ECIU.
The property was seized during coordinated police operations during December 2011 and March 2012 as a result of intensive investigations that were conducted by the Mpumalanga South African Police Service (SAPS) Organised Crime Unit and the ECIU into the large scale, organised poaching of rhinoceroses in the Kruger National Park (the KNP). These investigations included the smuggling and selling of the rhinoceroses’ horns to foreign nationals.
In court papers, the AFU submitted that the money and vehicles were the illegal proceeds acquired by Nyalunga as a result of rhinoceros poaching offences. On 12 December 2011, the SAPS received information that Nyalunga was on his way from Mpumalanga to Gauteng with the Range Rover and that he was conveying rhinoceros horns.
Nyalunga and Conrad Nkuna were arrested by the SAPS near Middelburg, when they were on their way back from Gauteng to Mpumalanga with the Range Rover. The police then discovered R3 280 800 cash in the Range Rover. The police also seized exhibits from the Range Rover that were sent for DNA analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory (the FSL) in Pretoria.
The FSL was able to find biological material from the exhibits that provided full DNA profiles of two male white rhinoceros. The DNA profile of one of the male white rhinoceros that was found in the Range Rover also matched the DNA profile of a male white rhinoceros that was poached in the KNP during early December 2011 in the Stolsnek area.
On 27 February 2012 and 2 March 2012, members of the Mpumalanga SAPS Organised Crime Unit conducted two undercover operations against Nyalunga where after he was arrested. After his arrest the police escorted Nyalunga to his residence in Mkhuhlu where a further R5 069 800 was found in a metal coffer in the garage.
Investigations revealed that, at the time of his arrest, Nyalunga was unemployed. He had no legitimate income that could explain the huge amount of cash found in his possession. Despite the fact that he was unemployed, Nyalunga had bought the Fortuner in cash for R290 000 and the Range Rover in cash for R640 000.
Nyalunga is currently in custody pending the finalisation of the criminal case against him and 12 other members of the poaching syndicate. The criminal case was postponed to 14 November 2013 for trial in the Middelburg regional court
