John Hume: Six rhino horn syndicate suspects granted bail

They are charged with dealing in 964 rhino horns valued at R250m

19 August 2025


From left: John Frederick Hume, Clive John Mervan Melville, Izak Hermanus du Toit, Elizabeth Catharina van Niekerk, Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel and Johannes Abraham Hennop in the Pretoria magistrate's court on Tuesday.


Five men and a woman accused of being involved in the trafficking of 964 rhino horns valued at R250m were granted bail by the Pretoria magistrate's court on Tuesday.

John Frederick Hume, 83, founder and owner of the Platinum Rhino Conservation Enterprise, was granted R100,000 bail.

The director of a nonprofit organisation, Elizabeth Catharina Van Niekerk, 58, and transport maintenance manager Clive John Mervan Melville, 63, were granted R10,000 bail each, while attorney Izak Hermanus du Toit, 50, insurance broker Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel, 37, and game reserve manager Johannes Abraham Hennop, 52, were each granted R20,000 bail.

“They are collectively facing a total of 55 charges of multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Act, contravention of the Riotous Assemblies Act, theft and money laundering,” the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks said in a joint statement.

It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, the accused operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).

“They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in Southeast Asia.”

The fraudulent scheme was estimated to involve 964 rhino horns valued at R250m.

After intensive investigations by the Hawks, the six handed themselves over at the Pretoria Central police station on Tuesday, where they were formally arrested.

“During bail proceedings, they all asked to be released on bail because they were not flight risks and had co-operated with the police.”

In his affidavit, Melville disclosed that he had a 2019 conviction for fraud and for being in possession of and transporting rhino horns. He was sentenced to pay a fine.

Poggenpoel disclosed that he had a 2009 conviction for possession of a rhino horn and had paid an admission of guilt fine of R2,500.

“Poggenpoel also disclosed that he will be appearing on September 17 at Winburg magistrate's court because during the visit to his residence, the investigation team found ammunition that was not locked away in a safe and supposedly scheduled medicine without a permit.”

The state did not oppose bail.

The court granted bail and ordered the accused to surrender their passports and not apply for new travel documents while the case was pending.

The court ordered the accused to report to their nearest police station once a week, and instructed that they may not interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.

The matter was postponed to December 9 for further investigations.

By the time this is finally adjudicated, Hume will be dead of old age and the rest will be very senior citizens who pay a small fine.

Any relation to Johnny Hume previously of Sango Safaris?

964 rhinos are dead. Six people. There are a lot more. If I were king I'd tell them to identify everyone in the conspiracy if they didn't want to die now.

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Any relation to Johnny Hume previously of Sango Safaris?

No, and it's Jonathon Hulme not Hume. His brother was David who passed too soon.

ABC News report on Hume case. ~Alan

South Africa accuses 6 of massive rhino horn trafficking scheme involving nearly 1,000 horns

The suspects allegedly shipped horns to Southeast Asian black markets.

August 20, 2025

LONDON -- Six suspects accused of orchestrating one of South Africa's largest rhino horn trafficking operations appeared in court Tuesday following a 7-year investigation that uncovered a scheme involving 964 rhino horns destined for illegal markets in Southeast Asia, authorities said.

The arrests mark what officials are calling a "decisive victory" in the country's fight against international wildlife crime, as South Africa continues to battle a poaching crisis that claimed 420 rhinos in 2024 alone.

Among those arrested was John Hume, 83, the controversial former owner of the world's largest rhino farm who once bred about 2,000 white rhinos, roughly an eighth of the global population, before selling his operation to African Parks in 2023.

Alleged fraudulent permit scheme exposed

The six suspects, aged between 49 and 84, surrendered to the South African Police's elite Hawks unit at Sunnyside Police Station before appearing in Pretoria Magistrates' Court on charges including fraud, theft, and violations of environmental protection laws.

Prosecutors allege the syndicate defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment by obtaining permits under false pretenses to buy and sell rhino horns domestically, while actually funneling them into illegal international markets.

The investigation involved the SAPS Hawks' Wildlife Trafficking Section, the Department's enforcement unit known as the Green Scorpions, and the National Prosecuting Authority. Additional charges of racketeering and money laundering are under consideration, officials said.

While South African law permits domestic trade in rhino horn with valid government permits, international commercial trade has been banned since 1977 under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

'Rhino baron' among the accused

Hume, once dubbed South Africa's "rhino baron," spent decades and an estimated $150 million advocating for legalizing international rhino horn trade, arguing that flooding the market with ethically harvested horns would reduce poaching.

He was granted bail of 100,000 rand (about $5,600), while his co-accused received bail ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 rand.

The other suspects include Hume's relative, Clive Melville, who was previously accused in 2019 of illegally transporting 167 rhino horns; attorneys Izak du Toit and Catharina van Niekerk; insurance broker Mattheus Poggenpoel; and game reserve manager Johannes Hennop.

Poaching crisis continues

The arrests come as South Africa, home to 80% of the world's remaining rhinos, grapples with an ongoing poaching crisis. Despite a 15% decrease in poaching deaths from 2023 to 2024, 103 rhinos were killed in the first three months of 2025, more than one per day, according to government figures.

KwaZulu-Natal province has emerged as the epicenter, though dehorning initiatives showed promise after the province saw poaching losses drop nearly 30% in 2024. However, criminal syndicates quickly adapted, targeting even dehorned rhinos for their horn stumps by November 2024.

The illegal trade is reportedly driven by demand in Vietnam and China, where the horns are used in traditional medicine despite no proven medicinal value.

Rhino horn can fetch more than $60,000 per kilogram on the black market, a commodity more valuable than gold, platinum or diamonds, according to the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

South African Environment Minister Dr. Dion George called the arrests "a powerful demonstration of South Africa's resolve to protect its natural heritage."

"This complex investigation shows that our enforcement agencies will not hesitate to pursue those who plunder our wildlife for criminal profit," George said.

I am in a bit of confusion here.

If the rhinos BELONG to him, why was he not allowed to sell them?

What is the difference between him and cattle farmers??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I am in a bit of confusion here.

If the rhinos BELONG to him, why was he not allowed to sell them?

What is the difference between him and cattle farmers??

It is not about selling the rhinos; it is about selling the horns. It is a bit confusing, but apparently, although you can sell the horns within SA; you can't export them out of the country, i.e., local law vs. international law.

"Prosecutors allege the syndicate defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment by obtaining permits under false pretenses to buy and sell rhino horns domestically, while actually funneling them into illegal international markets."

Saeed, I found another article that breaks the 55 charges of multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Act, contravention of the Riotous Assemblies Act, theft, and money laundering into four categories.

However, these are the initial news reports, which may or may not be 100% accurate. ~ Alan


Details of the trafficking operation

According to investigators, the sophisticated operation involved:

* The creation of fraudulent permits for domestic horn sales
* Collaboration with corrupt government officials
* International smuggling networks reaching into Southeast Asia
* The illegal movement of hundreds of rhino horns worth millions

A bit of a hypocrisy here.

South African farmers breed rhinos.

The Chinese and other East Asian countries want rhino horns.

But the West denies them that right??

Why?

They are being bred, so there is no chance of them going extinct!

I wonder where cattle or pigs would be if we didn’t eat them?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
A bit of a hypocrisy here.

South African farmers breed rhinos.

The Chinese and other East Asian countries want rhino horns.

But the West denies them that right??

Why?

They are being bred, so there is no chance of them going extinct!

I wonder where cattle or pigs would be if we didn’t eat them?

Yes, that is the crux of the whole matter. Hume made the same argument for years that legalization would cut the legs out from under the black market value. However, it was never tried because of do-gooder NGOs and anti-hunting organizations, so we will never know if that would have worked or not.

About time African countries told the West to FO!

And do what is good for them!

Instead of pleasing deranged, clueless, do gooders!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I am in a bit of confusion here.

If the rhinos BELONG to him, why was he not allowed to sell them?

What is the difference between him and cattle farmers??

Exactly this Saeed. John Hume has poured a fortune into conserving these animals. I speak under correction, but also with zero help from the government. It's only right that he should be able to legally sell those horns to offset some of the cost. I can't imagine what his security bill alone must look like.

Is this the same guy who owned Mauricedale (I think)? He owned a mountain of rhino and almost went broke protecting them. Same guy?

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Is this the same guy who owned Mauricedale (I think)? He owned a mountain of rhino and almost went broke protecting them. Same guy?

Yes sir, It is.

Shocking.

Governments will never learn.

Banning trade in items for which there is a ready market never works.

All it does is create unmet demand, higher prices and a black market.

This has been proven time and time again.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Governments will never learn.

Banning trade in items for which there is a ready market never works.

All it does is create unmet demand, higher prices and a black market.

This has been proven time and time again.

Actually, facts are the West, in their self appointed superiority, dictate all sorts of rules to other countries!

Sadly, other countries, notably in Africa, are unable to band together.

If they did, they can teach the West a thing or two.

Lots of resources are only available in Africa.

The Africans can get most of what they need from China and Russia.

And they can tell the West to take a hike!

And start selling rhino horns and elephant ivory too!

And with a bit of luck, they can entice Trump to build a few towers too!

quote:

Originally posted by KMG Hunting Safaris:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I am in a bit of confusion here.

If the rhinos BELONG to him, why was he not allowed to sell them?

What is the difference between him and cattle farmers??

Exactly this Saeed. John Hume has poured a fortune into conserving these animals. I speak under correction, but also with zero help from the government. It's only right that he should be able to legally sell those horns to offset some of the cost. I can't imagine what his security bill alone must look like.

There was another gentleman accused of something similar a few months ago. He was also crucified by the media, government and even some members of AR. He was found innocent and not a single shred of evidence could be produced to back up the allegations.

The True Green Alliance, which is very pro hunting, has issued a lengthy statement explaining their strong support for John Hume. Their position is that without John Hume there would be very few rhinos left anywhere. They also made it clear that the horns he sold were removed from live rhinos, most of which are still living.