Month: February 2023

South Africa’s relentless fight against rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park and other national parks saw a slight decline in poaching numbers across the country.

Last year, 124 rhino were poached at the South African National Parks (SANParks) compared to 209 in 2021. This represents a 40% decrease compared with those killed for their horn 2021.

“The steady decline in rhino poaching in national parks is related to the relentless war that has been waged by our fearsome anti-poaching machinery as well as a comprehensive dehorning programme. This year’s outcome shows that collaboration between conservation authorities, the South African Police Services, revenue authorities and international agencies works. We believe that if provincial authorities in KwaZulu-Natal follow our model, they will be able to significantly curb rhino poaching in their provincial parks before it is too late,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, said on Monday.

A total of 448 rhino were killed in the country in 2022 compared to 451 rhino poached in 2021. Unfortunately, the poaching threat has shifted to KwaZulu-Natal, which lost 244 rhino to poaching last year compared to 102 in 2021.

In 2022, a number of successful arrests and prosecutions were recorded, which contributed to the integrated work of the law enforcement agencies, comprising of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Hawks, SANParks, Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre, the Environmental Management Inspectorate or Green Scorpions, customs officials, provincial park authorities, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

A total of 132 arrests were effected during 2022 for rhino poaching: 23 in the Skukuza area in Mpumalanga, 49 in KwaZulu-Natal and the balance in Limpopo.

The recent focus on money laundering and international co-operation with other law enforcement authorities saw the arrest of 26 rhino horn traffickers and 13 people for money laundering and bribing of rangers.

To support anti-poaching efforts in KwaZulu-Natal, special interventions were introduced in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), non-governmental organizations and the SAPS, which resulted in four key arrests of syndicate members who were focusing their illegal efforts in KwaZulu-Natal. These agencies will continue to collaborate this year.

“The work of the Department’s Environmental Enforcement Fusion Centre (EEFC) enables authorities to track information pertaining to wildlife crime at a national level and understand trends and changing modus operandi while supporting the investigative and tactical teams.

“During 2022, the NPA in collaboration with the DFFE established a Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Environmental Working Group. The purpose of this group is to foster closer collaboration between the provinces working on wildlife trafficking cases and helps identify repeat offenders moving around the country,” the department said.

As part of continued efforts to ensure the survival of the rhino species, SANParks, is in the process of identifying suitable safe habitat across South Africa for the introduction of new rhino communities.

Source: South African Government News Agency

MLUNGISI – Two elderly people believed to be staying together burnt in a shack fire at Nomzamo last night.

On Saturday, 4 February, police were summoned to a scene of a shack that was engulfed in flames at Nomzamo area in Mlungisi (Komani). After the fire was extinguished, two bodies of a man aged 90 and an 82-year-old woman were found in the ambers. Their identities are withheld until formal identification process is concluded.

The cause of fire is yet to be established. Police opened inquest dockets for further investigation.

Source: South African Police Service

GAUTENG – On Saturday, 04 February 2023 members of SAPS Tsakane arrested a 22-year-old suspect in Langaville for dealing in and possession of drugs following a community tip-off.

The members in collaboration with members of the Gauteng Highway Patrol reportedly operationalised information and proceeded to an identified address in Langaville. Upon their arrival a search was conducted which led to the recovery of small zip-lock bags containing crystal meth.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Tsakane Magistrates’ court soon.

Source: South African Police Service

GQEBERHA – Excellent collaboration between various police units including off duty police officers ended in the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of a police firearm that was taken in a robbery on Thursday afternoon, 2 February 2023.

It is alleged that at about 13:00 on the mentioned date, a police Constable from SAPS Kwanobuhle was on duty and was in a shop in Nyanda Street when he was attacked from behind by an unknown person. He was hit on his head with a blunt object. When the dazed member fell, the suspect grabbed his firearm and ran off.

Immediately, various police units mobilised to hunt for the suspect. Nelson Mandela Bay District Crime Combatting Unit (CCU) members who were off duty activated their informers and started the search for the suspect. They were later assisted by SAPS Kwanobuhle Crime Prevention members (both on and off duty) as well as the Provincial OCI (Gang Investigation).

The team conducted an extensive search in the Gunguluza area 11, a hotspot for criminality. At about 22:40, one suspect aged 27, was arrested at a house in Nyembu Street where he was found in possession of ammunition. The second suspect, aged 25-years-old was arrested at a house in Bantom Street. He was found in possession of the police firearm.

The 27-year-old was detained on a charge of illegal possession of ammunition while the 25-year-old was detained on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and attempted murder. Additional charges may be added as the investigation unfolds.

They are expected to appear in the Kwanobuhle magistrate court on Monday, 6 February 2023.

Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Maj Gen Vuyisile Ncata commended the team for their swift activation which led to the arrests and recovery of the firearm. ’Criminals who blatantly disrespect and have no fear of the law will be dealt with accordingly. We applaud the excellent teamwork by members especially those that were off duty who never hesitated to immediately hunt for the alleged perpetrator. Such dedication and care is synonymous to the camaraderie shared by police officers,’ added Maj Gen Ncata.

Source: South African Police Service

MPUMALANGA – Police in Mpumalanga are looking for suspects involved in two separate gun related incidents.

Furthermore, the management therefore calls on community members to report any form of misuse of firearms, mishandling of firearms and all unlawful firearms within the community.

The management mentioned that one life lost is too many. It takes one shot to increase the number of orphans and widows in the country.

In recent days, police has witnessed a number of gun related incidents, either domestic or criminally related.

It was a traumatic experience for two girls aged 6 and 8 when they narrowly escaped death with their father in the hands of two unknown criminals who opened fire in their vehicle this morning in Belfast at about 08:45.

According to information, the two minors were driving out of the yard with their father when two criminals who had their faces covered with balaclavas opened fire.

The father instructed the kids to alight from the vehicle and seek refugee from neighbours.

The assailants proceeded to the victim’s vehicle and fired more shots.

The two assailants then rushed towards their gateway grey Toyota Corolla and fled the scene.

The victim sustained two gunshots on his hand and back, he further sustained some injuries due to shattered glasses when his vehicle bumped into his wall. He was transported to Belfast hospital where he received treatment before he was transferred to the undisclosed hospital for his safety.

In a separate incident, a male victim was not as lucky as he succumbed to the gunshot wound in Mahashe trust in Acornhoek last night, Friday 3 February 2023. His body was recovered at about 22:30.

The victim’s lifeless body believed to be in his 40s was found abandoned with a bullet wound on his thigh in Mahashe trust near the dumping site.

According to information, the victim was found naked and his uniform dumped next to his body.

Preliminary investigation indicated that the victim was a manager in one of the clothing store in Acornhoek shopping complex.

The victim was certified dead by medical practitioners on the scenes.

The police management calls on anyone with information that might assist in the investigation to contact the nearest police station or call the police on the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 alternatively send tipoffs on MySAPS App. The management guarantees confidentiality in all information and the identity of the information provider.

The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has strongly condemned the incidents and calls upon the community members to report illegal firearms, mishandling and firearms related threats.

Source: South African Police Service