16 January 2009
In a joint operation by various disciplines of the South African Police
Service (SAPS) including the Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West Organised Crime
Units, the Gauteng Provincial Task Team together with South African National
Parks (SANPARKS) have arrested and charged 11 suspects in connection with the
poaching of black and white rhino.
Over the years there has been sporadic slaughtering of rhinos in national
and provincial parks and private game reserves in the Mpumalanga, Limpopo and
North West Provinces. Since 2006 several rhino were shot and their horns were
hacked out, in some cases, brutally - while the animal/s were still alive.
The close working relationship between our members from the three provinces
and the parks' authority resulted in the tracking and arrest of five
Mozambicans (including one woman), three Chinese men (two Cape Town based
businessmen and a medical doctor from Bruma Lake), two South Africans and one
person of unknown nationality. The team also recovered two AK-47 rifles and
four .303 rifles and R16 000 cash.
These suspects have all been charged with illegal hunting of game within
national parks, unlawful possession and dealing in rhino horn and unlawful
possession of firearms. The suspects have all appeared in courts around the
three provinces but soon all the cases will be consolidated and brought before
a single court.
The suspects have been identified as follows:
* Washington Hlongwane (Mozambican)
* Eric Simango (Mozambican)
* Joshua Baloi (Mozambican)
* Sarafina Baloi (Mozambican â wife)
* Joe Mashaba (Mozambican)
* Peter Blanco (Nationality not confirmed)
* Phineas Mundhlovu (South African)
* Mike Peega (South African)
* Jianwei Wu (Cape Town)
* Z Yu (Cape Town)
* Dr Wei Guan Hu (Gauteng Province)
The vicious tactics employed in the execution of these animals is just
beyond comprehension. With the assistance of a dedicated specialised prosecutor
the team is working tirelessly towards securing convictions as well as the
severest punishment possible for all the suspects. It is imperative that
potential poachers are reminded of the severity of poaching South Africa's
heritage so this crime does not persist.
The rhino horns are suspected to have been sold to the eastern market
between R18 000 to R25 000 a kilogram with the horns weighing between eight to
eleven kilograms.
"I would like to express my appreciation to all concerned in this complex
and time-consuming investigation which has resulted in a major syndicate,
responsible for the brutal slaying of endangered animals, being brought to
book," said Divisional Commissioner of SAPS Detective Services, Commissioner
Ray Lalla. "The police members, in close co-operation with SANPARKS, spent days
and nights - even on Christmas day - tracking these suspects and have put their
all into ensuring that those responsible for the killing of these beautiful
creatures for blood-money were brought before the courts," Lalla added.
The Chief Executive of South African National Parks (SANParks), Dr David
Mabunda, said that rhino poaching seems to be escalating throughout the world
and it is encouraging to see that the excellent co-operation between SANParks
and the SAPS in South Africa has been able to achieve such good results in
apprehending these callous offenders. "South Africa is one of a growing number
of countries in the world where environmental crime is no longer tolerated and
this intensive operation is further evidence of this," said Dr Mabunda
Contact:
Vishnu Naidoo
Tel: 012 393 1525
Cell: 082 567 4153
Issued by: South African Police Service
16 January 2009
