Alleged poacher shot dead in KNP

Date: 24 October 2014 By: Isabel Venter

Over the past weekend, would-be poachers were dealt a harsh blow when they crossed swords with rangers and police on their own territory.

On Saturday, 18 October, one suspected rhino poacher was shot and killed in the Punda Maria section of the Kruger National Park (KNP). According to KNP spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli, a joint SANParks, SAPS deployment with air wing support of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) made contact with three suspected poachers shortly after sunrise.

Provincial police spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said that the team had ordered the group of suspects to stop, after which the poachers opened fire.

During the cross fire, one suspect was killed. Another was wounded in his left knee and right thigh, while the third suspect was arrested unharmed. “One hunting rifle with 11 rounds of ammunition, an axe, knife and three cell phones have been confiscated,” Mulaudzi said.

Mulaudzi confirmed the identities of the two arrested suspects as Robert Shivambu (50) and Aubrey Chauke (47). According to Mulaudzi they were both wearing SANParks uniforms at the time of their arrest. Their fallen comrade was wearing a Mozambican soldier's uniform and at the time of going to press, had yet to be identified.

Shivambu and Chauke briefly appeared in the Louis Trichardt District Court on Monday and will remain in custody until 27 October while further police investigations continue. They face charges of rhino poaching, attempted murder, trespassing, possession of an unlicensed firearm and the impersonation of a SANParks official.

Eight other suspects were also arrested during the joint operation. On Friday (17th) a suspicious vehicle was searched near the Skukuza camp and five people were arrested. Inside the vehicle, rangers found a .375 hunting rifle, ammunition and poaching equipment. Later, on the same day, three more suspects were arrested in the Malelane area of the KNP, also in regard to alleged poaching activities.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

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