South Africa: Poacher shot dead, 7 arrested

A man was shot dead, another wounded, and six others arrested when police foiled two rhino poaching attempts in Limpopo on Sunday, a spokesperson said.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the incidents occurred on Rietvley Farm in Polokwane and Welgevonden Farm just outside Modimolle in the late afternoon.

"The man was shot at Rietvley Farm after he and his four accomplices allegedly failed to heed police instructions to surrender," Hangwani said.

He allegedly pointed a R5 automatic rifle at police, who then retaliated with gunfire. Another suspect was shot in the buttocks and taken to hospital under police guard. Three others then surrendered.

"In Welgevoden Farm, two suspects, one who is an employee of the Limpopo provincial government, were cornered by police, and laid down their arms without any resistance," he said.

During both operations, police managed to recover a police-issued R5 automatic rifle with 34 live rounds, a silencer, a Toyota van, two axes, and a .307 rifle with a silencer.

The alleged poachers, excluding the Limpopo government employee, were Mozambican and Zimbabwean nationals, who were residing in Tembisa and Soshanguve townships in Gauteng.

Limpopo provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Amon Mashigo said: "I hope this will be a lesson to other poachers that police are serious about their work and will not hesitate to protect themselves and arrest anyone including government officials who are fuelling this criminal act."

All suspects would appear in the Modimolle and Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Would be interesting to hear what their punishments were Alan and if they were fulfilled.

Castrate them!

David,

According to another article I posted, two (apparently) Vietnamese got 6 and 12 years respectively for possession of rhino horns. There were some comments on the News24 website about why their sentences weren't any longer, however one person said that was the maximum sentences allowed under SA law.

I don't know if that is true or not, but if the SA courts starts handing out sentences for ANY length of time, that certainly beats turning poachers loose with just a fine. I expect any amount of time in an African jail is a virtual death sentence.

It will be interesting to see what transpires when the Out of Africa gang has their day in court. If I remember correctly, the trial was postponed until September. Sources in South Africa tell me they have been bragging in all the local bars that they have paid their way out and will soon walk away from the rhino poaching charges scot-free... however, that is just the rumor.

It will be an interesting outcome for sure. It isn't a rumor that many have paid their way out of crimes in the past. Time will tell.

You cant kill a rhino with a 13 inch long R5 barrel (5.56mm) can you? This was for offensive use only. Interesting they had sound supressor for both rifles. Wonder what a 307 rifle is???

Andy