On Monday 18 March 2013, the North Gauteng High Court granted a preservation of property order in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act regarding R5 846 400-00 that belongs to Joseph Nyalunga also known as “Big Joe”. The application was launched by the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) of the National Prosecuting Authority.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) Organised Crime Unit, Mpumalanga and members of the Environmental Crime Investigation Unit of the South African National Parks conducted investigations into large scale, organised poaching of rhinoceroses in the Kruger National Park by a group of individuals the syndicate and the smuggling and selling of the rhinoceroses’ horns to foreign nationals. Nyalunga, a former police official, was identified by the above mentioned law enforcement agencies as being the ring leader of the syndicate.
On 27 February 2012 and 2 March 2012, members of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit in Mpumalanga conducted two undercover operations against Nyalunga.
Nyalunga was arrested after the second undercover operation. After his arrest the police escorted him to his residence at stand number 440 Mkhuhlu Township near the KNP. The police searched his residence and seized various items, including R5 069 800.00 which was found in a metal coffer in the garage.
The preservation of property order regarding the R5 846 400.00 was granted by the High Court on the basis that it represents the proceeds of unlawful activities and/or was utilised as instrumentalities to commit offences, namely, the unlawful hunting of rhinoceroses and the illicit dealing in and smuggling of their horns and/or money laundering and it was received in connection with or as a result of unlawful activity.
The recent High Court order follows from a similar court order that was obtained by the AFU on 16 November 2012 wherein an amount of R3 280 800.00 in cash; a Land Rover Range Rover motor vehicle; as well as a Toyota Fortuner motor vehicle were seized that belong to Nyalunga.
At the time of his arrest Nyalunga was unemployed. He had no legitimate income that could explain the huge amount of cash that the police found in his possession. Nyalunga is currently in custody pending the finalisation of the criminal cases against him and the matter was subsequently postponed to 4 April 2013 in the Middelburg regional court.
The state was represented by Adv. SJ van der Walt.
Contact:
Medupe Simasiku
NPA Communications
Cell: 071 0444 340
Tel: 012 401 0424
Email: msimasiku@npa.gov.za
