North West Premier Thandi Modise is confident that police are closing the net around the syndicate responsible for rhino poaching and are getting closer to the kingpins. This follows the arrest of two more people in Rustenburg on Friday morning bringing to 8 suspects arrested in connection with poaching of eight rhinos in Klipkopspruit farm over the past weekend.
“Though the network of the syndicate of cruelty and brutality against the rhino as a symbol of our ecology and rich heritage is crumbling, we would be satisfied with nothing less than the arrest of the kingpins behind the evil trade in rhino horns. We commend the Hawks’ Rhino task team for its determination to clamp down on the scourge of rhino poaching and members of the community for the tip-off that led to this major breakthrough,” Premier Modise.
Three suspects linked to the weekend incident were tracked down and arrested on Thursday night in central Pretoria, Katlehong and Alberton in Gauteng while 3 of the suspects one of whom is a game ranger were arrested in Lethabing township on Monday.
The Premier reiterated her earlier call to police to intensify the onslaught against syndicates involved in rhino poaching to face the full the full wrath and might of the law.
Modise had earlier this week said that the provincial government is considering requesting the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist it to overcome the scourge of rhino poaching.
She had also said that there is a need to clamp down on issuing of illegal hunting permits as part of intensifying law enforcement and crime intelligence to overcome the scourge of rhino poaching.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
