Watch Rhino poacher handed 22year sentence video

31 year old Mozambican was found with two rhino horns at Kurger Park. Image: Pixabay

Rhino poaching family pay bail (video)

Rhino poaching field rangers are the source for syndicates killing this precious animal. Police are on their tails.

Watch Rhino poacher handed 22year sentence video

31 year old Mozambican was found with two rhino horns at Kurger Park. Image: Pixabay

Two former field rangers were helping in the illegal rhino poaching industry. Police were on the lookout and have made shocking discoveries. The Hawks’ reported nine people had been arrested during “Blood Orange”. The accused paid bail of R5000 each for their crimes. This comes after two field-rangers Chikwa David Maluleke and Solly Ubisi were arrested on 24 April 2022. The men were charged with corruption, money-laundering and fraud. Police positively-linked them to wildlife trafficking.

Maluleke and Ubisi were released on bail by the Bushbuckridge Magistrates Court.

They will appear in court again on 27 January 2023.

Information on the rhino for bribes

Police found evidence linking both men to rhino poaching syndicates. Cash was exchanged for tactical information and transferred into bank accounts of family members of the accused. 

The investigation led the Hawks to Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo. Other police involved included the serious organised crime from Mpumalanga and Limpopo. 

Some of the other teams were the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team and Local Criminal Record Centre on 2 December 2022. 

The seriousness of the crime caused many officers to join the team.

Maluleke’s family who have been arrested are: Joyce Maluleke, 51, Stephinah Mbhombi, 52, Oters Maluleke, 27, Miyelani Maluleke, 29, and Nkhesane Maluleke, 22. 

Ubisi’s family members will make their bail appeal on 8 December 2022.

The accused are sitting behind bars for now. They are: Thandi Makhuvele, 37, Alsina Mkhonto, 61, Ignatia Mnisi, 36, and Given Mzimba, 28.

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Rhino sales cash flow 

The accused were arrested after police investigated their financial affairs. In addition they were being audited by KPMG who did a financial investigation regarding the flow of money in the suspect’s bank accounts. 

Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi confirmed two suspects were still on the run.

She said: “They will be traced and brought to book as the investigation continues.” 

Call Hawks’ investigating officer, Colonel Danie Hall on 071-481-3281 with information.

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