A 49 year old man from Lulekani was arrested and appeared in court on charges of dealing in rhino horns following a bust where he was caught attempting to buy a rhino horn.
The suspect, Johan Masakwani Mundhlovu, from Lulekani, was arrested last week Friday and a rhino horn, copper cables, two butcher knives, an axe and a 9mm pistol with twelve rounds of ammunition was confiscated from him. He appeared in the Lulekani Magistrates’ Court and the case was remanded to 7 July for further investigation.
The suspect is already positively connected to an incident of rhino poaching that took place at Dwaalboom during March of this year and the possibility that he might have been involved in even more cases are also being investigated.
Meanwhile, four suspects who were arrested during last year appeared in theNaboomspruit Magistrates’ court again on Tuesday. Chico Malesa, Johannes Malesa (brothers), Innocent Matjakesa and Archford Moyo, all from Hammanskraal were arrested at Naboomspruit while they were on their way to commit a suspected rhino poaching.
The fire-arms that were found in their possession were sent for ballistic tests and the results have since connected them to six cases of rhino poaching at Thabazimbi, Pienaarsrivier, Mokopane and Naboomspruit.
The case against them has been remanded to 19 June. They are all still in custody.
Media enquiries:
Lt Col Ronel Otto
Cell: 082 451 7176
Suspect arrested for dealing in rhino horn
