Two former Kruger Park rangers receive lengthy jail sentences on poaching charges

Two former Kruger Park rangers receive lengthy jail sentences on poaching charges

Two former Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers were last week sentenced to an effective 20-year jail term for their involvement in rhino poaching.

Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu were field rangers attached to the Crocodile Bridge section of the KNP and were arrested in January 2019 after information had been received that both were involved in the transportation of poaching suspects in the Godleni area of the section where two carcasses of white rhino were discovered. Analysis of their vehicle-tracking device placed them in the vicinity of the crime scene. The two were taken into custody and confessed to taking part in the crime. An amount of R41 000 was recovered from Joe Shilhangu’s room and it was determined that the money was payment for his participation in the commission of the crime.

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The trial of the two commenced in the Skukuza regional court early in September where the state presented compelling evidence, leading to the court finding them guilty on three counts:

• Conspiracy to commit a crime, resulting in a four-year sentence;
• Hunting of a rhinoceros in a national park, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment; and
• Hunting and killing of rhinoceros in a National Park, sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

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The court ordered that the sentences in counts one and two will run concurrently with that of count three, resulting in an effective jail term of 20 years for each accused.  

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“SANParks management has welcomed the sentences and congratulated the Rangers Corp, Environmental Investigative Unit, the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Agency. We hope these sentences will send a strong message to the Rangers Corps that criminality will not be tolerated and that those involved will face the full might of the law and suffer the consequences of their action,” SANParks spokesperson JP Louw says.