Rietvlei Nature Reserve

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria is now open.
Photo: Flickr

Rhino poaching: Man gets 25 years after being caught twice

After being caught poaching on two separate occasions at the Kruger National Park, Mike Nyathi was finally sentenced on Friday, 18 March.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve

The Rietvlei Nature Reserve in Pretoria is now open.
Photo: Flickr

After being involved in two separate rhino poaching cases, a man was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. The two poaching incidents occurred at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga.

Hefty sentence handed down after two incidents

Mike Nyathi appeared before the Skukuza Regional Court on Friday, 18 March. Spokesperson for the SAPS Brigadier Selvy Mohlala explained that Nyathi was involved in two incidents. The hefty sentence was imposed after the court heard of the first incident.

“It is said that in the first incident, Nyathi and Janeiro Chunguane entered the Kingfisherspruit section inside Kruger National Park on 17 September 2017 and began hunting illegally, where they shot and killed a white rhinoceros.”

Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, SAPS

A white rhino was killed by poachers

Thankfully, field rangers in the Kingfisherspruit section heard the gunshots. They were able to rush over to the rhino as they were alerted of the intruders.

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Rangers investigated the situation where they found the two men.

“The rangers then went out to investigate what was happening and they found the two men who were in possession of one rifle without a serial number, an axe as well as a knife,” said Brig Mohlala.

They found the carcass of the white rhino that was killed next to where the two men were found. The pair were arrested for poaching. They were subsequently charged with possession of a prohibited firearm, an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, trespassing, conspiracy to commit a crime, hunting of protected animals in a national park and possession of a dangerous weapon.

After the 2017 incident, the pair appeared in court and were granted bail. Chunguane then fled to Mozambique and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

“Police are still looking for him and he is yet to be rearrested,” said Brig Mohlala.

No bail granted after second poaching incident

Nyathi was caught by rangers in May 2019 for a second poaching incident. He was charged and appeared in court. This time, he was not granted bail until his cases were finalised.

Nyathi was then convicted and sentenced in relation to the two rhino poaching incidents. He was given 15 years in prison. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm, reports TimesLIVE.

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