Thembi Juliegirl Mangane,37, has been sentenced to 16 years for rhino poaching. Image: SAPS/ AWF
Woman sentenced for rhino poaching in Kruger National Park
The woman, Thembi Juliegirl Mangane’s, two accomplices pleaded guilty for poaching and they were sentenced almost two years ago.
Thembi Juliegirl Mangane,37, has been sentenced to 16 years for rhino poaching. Image: SAPS/ AWF
A woman who was involved in rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park was sentenced to 16 years in jail by the Skukuza Regional Court on Friday.
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WOMAN HAD TWO ACCOMPLICES
The woman, identified as Thembi Juliegirl Mangane, had two accomplices. According to pleaded Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the two pleaded guilty and were sentenced about two years ago.
Her accomplices pleaded guilty and were sentenced, but Mangane decided to go on trial and was found guilty, said Mohlala. The woman’s accomplices, Sithole and Tibane were sentenced on 24 June 2021, to 22 years imprisonment.
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“The accused’s sentence emanates from a rhino poaching incident that took place on 18 April 2019. It is said on that day, rhino poachers entered the Kruger National Park through the Crocodile Bridge section where they killed a rhino and removed its horns,” Mohlala said.
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Mohlala said that it is possible that two other suspects managed to flee without being caught. However, members of the police were alerted about the incident, and a lookout for the suspects immediately commenced, according to a report by IOL.
Mohlala said police officers discovered that the woman was part of a plan to pick up and transport the other poaching suspects. This was for when they come out of the Kruger National Park after their illegal mission.
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“It did not take long for the members to identify their suspects. Thanks to the stock theft unit through information provided by the intelligence structure of the police in the province,” Mohlala.
