An interesting article appeared in the Volksblad, an Afrikaans only newspaper. For unknown reasons, it was not translated and placed on their English version website. An unfortunate mistake, however sharp eyed readers sent me this expert translation.

A bonus of the holiday season, the friends and allies of Out of Africa will get to spend time with some of their old friends.



Suspected poachers want to attend hunting fair in USA


Marietie Louw-Carstens

MUSINA. – Two of the 13 members of a suspected rhino poaching syndicate apprehended in Limpopo earlier this year will spend thousands in order to attend a hunting fair in America next year.

Mr Tielman Erasmus (32) and Gys du Preez (31), both professional hunters, yesterday made an application to the Musina magistrates' court to have their bail conditions amended.

Adv. Joanie Spies, state prosecutor, said the men had applied, amongst others, to have their passports returned to them. The state did not oppose the application. An agreement was reached with the defense whereby Erasmus and Du Preez will each pay R20000 to have their passports returned to them. They will be attending more than one hunting fair in America from 10 January onwards.

Spies said that their travel plans would be studied and if the state was satisfied, their passports would be returned to them.

Upon their return from this visit to America, they would have to hand in their passports within three working days.

Erasmus and Du Preez work for Mr Dawie Groenewald (42), owner of Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris and suspected kingpin of the suspected syndicate. Erasmus and Groenewald were arrested in September after an investigation by the National Prosecuting Authority and the Department of Environmental Affairs.

Groenewald, owner of the farm Prachtig ("Beautiful") in the Musina-district, is out on bail of R1 million. His wife, Sariette (34) was released on R100000 bail.

Dr. Karel Toet (45), a well-known veterinary surgeon in Modimolle (Nylstroom), was released on bail of R50000. His wife, Marisa (35), was released on R20000 bail. The rest of the accused are Dr Manie du Plessis (34), Toet's partner, and Mr Dewald Gouws, a pilot, Nardus Rossouw, Leon van der Merwe and Paul Matoromela.

All except Matoromela were released on R20000 bail. Matoromela's bail was set at R5000.

Du Preez and Mr Joseph Maluleka (39) were arrested in October. Du Preez was released on bail of R25000 and Maluleka on bail of R80000.

All the accused appeared in court on charges of fraud, deliberate damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, contravention of the Environmental Act, organized crime, and contravention of the Medicines Act and regulated substances. All were allegedly involved in the killing of rhinos and the removal and selling of rhino horns. They must appear in the magistrates' court in Musina on 11 April.

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This is a translated version of the report that appeared in the Volksblad newspaper, 2010/12/10. For the original article, refer to http://152.111.11.6/argief/ber.../mlnosters_1716.html

Great !!!

Guess the next thing we will hear is the infamous Wiki Leaks Assange chap will also be at SCI (-:

Cheers, Peter

FYI..Out of Africa is emailing offers of hunt donations to American SCI chapters to use in their local events.

Unfortunately, there will probably someone who unknowingly accepts it.

405wcf

quote:

Originally posted by 405wcf:
FYI..Out of Africa is emailing offers of hunt donations to American SCI chapters to use in their local events.

Unfortunately, there will probably someone who unknowingly accepts it.

405wcf

With all that has been going on, there should NOT abe anyone in SCI or its chapters who is not aware of this fiasco.

Would not U.S Fish & Game be waiting for them with a set of bracelets for violating Lacy Act??

SCI will probably let them in. After all, they haven't been convicted yet.

Let me get this streight. SCI won't let Mark Sullivan have a booth at the convention, but these two thugs are OK???

Maybe they can have a booth with David van Der Muelen and all the others so we can see them all in one place.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Maybe they can have a booth with David van Der Muelen and all the others so we can see them all in one place.

Aaaah van der Muelen, another one of SCI's past heros!

quote:

Originally posted by venda axe:
Let me get this streight. SCI won't let Mark Sullivan have a booth at the convention, but these two thugs are OK???

Where have you seen or read that SCI has them attending the SCI convention? It certainly wasn't in the article posted above.

No question that denying the two accused rhino poachers entry to SCI's convention would be the thing to do. However, it would be darned tough to do this.

The convention's registration area is staffed with temps who are hired locally and given brief instructions before being turned loose.

With long lines at the door and nearly 30,000 people coming and going, all these guys need do is stand in line, renew their memberships (if they officially resigned as the Groenwalds did, which is doubtful), pay their daily fees, and walk in.

It certainly would be interesting to watch what would develop if David van der Muelen or his wife were to show up. I know at least two guys who might pay their next year's income to have the van der Muelens taken to Lake Tahoe and given concrete boots and swimming lessons.

Bill Quimby

Wouldnt their visa to come to the USA be denied anyhow???

"Wouldn't their visa to come to the USA be denied anyhow///"

Do South Africans need a visa to come here?

Bill Quimby

As Bill Q said, if these two heyhoos are still SCI members or renew at the Show there is really nothing anyone can do about it. Actually the article said they want to attend several sport shows in the US, with nothing indicating that SCI was one of them. Funny some here already "have them" attending SCI and have started the bashing without any facts in hand .

If they do get in, they can work the show on the sly like some have done, and maybe will get caught and booted as we know this has happened to some here.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

give 'em hell, Larry. everybody knows SCI would NEVER allow shady/ disreputable people people to exhibit at the convention.

JD - Guess you missed the point again, as nowhere was it mentioned that these guys wanted to exhibit anywhere? Duh!! That's assuming you know the difference between an attendee and an exhibitor?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
give 'em hell, Larry. everybody knows SCI would NEVER allow shady/ disreputable people people to exhibit at the convention.

so these 2 guys are traveling 10,000 miles just to visit with old friends at the various hunting shows with no plans to drum up business? seems a bit far fetched but i guess anything is possible. SCI stripped OoA AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES/PARTNERS of membership privileges a few months ago. since these guys are associates, how can they get in?

Where does it say they will be attending SCI? Nowhere. If they come to the USA they might attend DSC, the Eastern Sportsmen Show, or the new one in Atlanta. There is no specific mention of SCI or Reno.

I am not condoning their attendance at shows or SCI's shortcomings in dealing with OOA.

Everybody here wants proof when it comes to SCI. Perhaps the poster "405wcf" can provide proof of these emails by OOA to SCI chapters.

Regards,

RCG

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
"Wouldn't their visa to come to the USA be denied anyhow///"

Do South Africans need a visa to come here?

Bill Quimby

Yes, S/Africans need visas to enter the States. Visas need to be applied for beforehand from the US Embassy and are valid for up to 10 years.

To answer Matt's question therefore - if they are already in posession of valid Visas (which they probably are) they would be allowed into the States.

If their Visas have expired and they need to apply for new ones it is unlikely that their applications will be declined - purely based on their involvement (alleged at this stage) in the Rhino case.

As far as I know the US Embassy will only decline applications for visas if the applicant is listed as "wanted" or if they have a previous conviction of some sorts.

Unfortunately they have not yet been convicted and are still innocent for those following the constitution.
There is no innocence in the world of public opinion and SCI is not mandated by the laws of the USA to allow their entry but if the authorities investigating the crimes are able to I would love to see them wearing bracelets upon arrival.
Frank

JD - Reread Bill Q's post a few lines up. He explains exactly how they could get into the SCI Convention if that is indeed their intent. double duh!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
so these 2 guys are traveling 10,000 miles just to visit with old friends at the various hunting shows with no plans to drum up business? seems a bit far fetched but i guess anything is possible. SCI stripped OoA AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATES/PARTNERS of membership privileges a few months ago. since these guys are associates, how can they get in?

I think they are going to the States to have a face to face pow wow with old friend Kevin

quote:

Where does it say they will be attending SCI? Nowhere. If they come to the USA they might attend DSC, the Eastern Sportsmen Show, or the new one in Atlanta.

The article says they will be attending shows from January 10 onward. That rules out the DSC Convention, which ends on January 9. Nevertheless, as Bill Quimby suggests in regard to Reno, if they came to Dallas, they could access the floor just like anyone else who buys a day pass.

Bearing in mind what the charges and possible penalties could be and also bearing in mind how others such as Jaco Du Plessis have disappeared in the past, I'm surprised that the state returned their passports to them.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Bearing in mind what the charges and possible penalties could be and also bearing in mind how others such as Jaco Du Plessis have disappeared in the past, I'm surprised that the state returned their passports to them.

Correct me if I'm in error, but I was under the empression they Jaco Du Plessis and his pilot were lost in the company airplane in a storm over Lake Kriba some time back!

Is there some reason to think otherwise?

Who is Kevin?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I think they are going to the States to have a face to face pow wow with old friend Kevin

OoA's attorney of record, rumored business partner, AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF SCI!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
Bearing in mind what the charges and possible penalties could be and also bearing in mind how others such as Jaco Du Plessis have disappeared in the past, I'm surprised that the state returned their passports to them.

Correct me if I'm in error, but I was under the empression they Jaco Du Plessis and his pilot were lost in the company airplane in a storm over Lake Kriba some time back!

Is there some reason to think otherwise?

Mac: The airplane was later found parked on a remote dirt strip (a long way from Kariba) in good mechanical condition and with ample gas to get to their original destination, or so I've heard. It apparently remains a mystery as to what happened to du Plessis or his passenger.

Steve: I've not heard that Jaco du Plessis or the passenger had a reason to want to disappear. Is there more to this story?

Bill Quimby

Not that it matters but I believe it was Lake Malawi rather than Kariba.

There were/are no end of rumours about the entire situation and I don't see any point in speculating about it really but my point is that several people have (over the years) simply disappeared, either by doing a bunk or just disappearing and that under the circumstances I'm rather surprised they were given their passports back.

Steve,

Some additional info might be in order. The prosecutions case is not as strong as they would like it to be...and the two PH's are not the main macaroni's they are after, so on the basis of INOCENT until PROVEN guilty, they were probably granted to go and market.

You see, as I see it, Mr. Groenewald gave them a bloody nose in court every time they tried to take him on.

I only have one champion in this fight and that is the Rhino. If they are guilty I'll say SHOOT them....until then.....

OH and DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ BOYS and GALS!

Charl,

I think you misunderstand my point, which is that the charges are serious, the alleged sums of money involved, large and the penalties, if found guilty could be a longish stretch in an African jail and that I'm surprised the courts returned the passports.

You were a lawyer so perhaps you could comment on how whether that commonly happens in RSA or not but certainly in the UK, it probably wouldn't be considered.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by billrquimby:
"Wouldn't their visa to come to the USA be denied anyhow///"

Do South Africans need a visa to come here?

Hell yes, its one of the most difficult visa`s in the world next to the European Shengan Visa.
I had to give bank statements, proof of land ownership, a letter from my GP, from the cops .Letters from friends in the US who would endorse my stay and then had to go to 1 of 3 centres in JHB, Cape Town or Durban to be Gruelled for 40min in a personal Interview where thay wanted every personal detail,Including my wifes age and how long we were married how many kids I had??
.That was 4 years ago.

They may have 10yr visa and may be attending a number of NON SCI shows. They just want $1000-$ 3500 per booth depending on the show
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:

You see, as I see it, Mr. Groenewald gave them a bloody nose in court every time they tried to take him on.

Charl you make good points
But these rich buggers get excellent lawyers.
I know of a Outfitter thats as crooked as a fish hook and with a team of lawyers has got off every time. Now hes in trouble again.

The guy has a reputation thats years in the making , this is not an isolated case.

Zuma got off.
where there is a constant smoke plume theres a fire!!

Guess one more thing, they have a leopard Tag as well.

Sorry for babbling on but . . .
1.)surely these guys should have their P.H and Outfitters licenses suspended till the outcome of the trial.
2.)How is it that they got a leopard permit with poaching charges pending? what is nature conservation thinking??
3.) how is it that a P.H is allowed to travel to do marketing? Thats illegal only registered outfitters may market hunting.

Isn't January 10th DSC time? Sixteen days later before SCI.

just curious...

Rich
DRSS

Here are the four major safari shows that are coming up in January:

Dallas Safari Club (DSC): Dallas TX - January 6-9
African Hunting Show: Atlanta, GA - January 15-16
African Hunting Expo: Charlotte, NC - January 20-22
Safari Club International (SCI): Reno, NV - January 26-29

The article says the alleged poachers, Tielman Erasmus and Gys du Preez, want to travel on Jan. 10th, so that rules out Dallas. This is not surprising, since Out of Africa was banned from the Dallas AND Houston Safari Clubs several years ago. Folks in Texas figured these people out at the very beginning.

Of course Tielman Erasmus and Gys du Preez are going to Reno, where else would they find aid, comfort, and support? SCI supported and promoted OoA until the bitter end. SCI was finally forced to "allow" Dawie and Janneman Groenewald to resign after Dawie's felony conviction for leopard smuggling. This loophole would have allowed Out of Africa to return to rip off and extort chapter members after things had died down.

After the recent arrest of the Out of Africa gang for allegedly poaching over 100 rhinos, all their former SCI enablers suddenly started declaring how they are glad these dastardly poachers were finally apprehended. Now, these former allies want Out of Africa to get their day in court and be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Of course, nothing is ever mentioned about the landslide of ethics complaints that were quashed by the SCI Ethics Committee while it was headed by their attorney, SCI president-elect, Kevin Anderson.

The other two shows are brand new and have no track record. It will be interesting to see their response when they learn the news.

I am of the opinion the whole show thing is a red herring. No one of sound mind is going to spend the money to send Tielman Erasmus and Gys du Preez over here to wander around the US and "talk to clients". My guess is they are coming here to get money back to SA to fight the court case. They sent the two of them together so they can keep an eye on each other... and make sure no cash goes astray.

When is the movie premiere?

Coming to a bioscope near you.