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Jail time for attempt to poach a rhino

Date: 06 November 2015 By: Isabel Venter

A young man who tried to poach a rhino on a local farm paid for his mistake by being sent to jail for 11 years.

In an unusual turn of events the rhino was not killed, a fact that attracted lots of praise for the local K9 unit of the Makhado Police station. The unit played a vital role in not only catching the poacher, but also gathering the evidence that led to his conviction.

Prince Talani Maluleke (20) from Mutale was found guilty of illegal hunting, trespassing and the illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He appeared in the Louis Trichardt Regional Court on Tuesday, 27 October, where his sentence was handed down.

Maluleke was caught on 21 May 2014, together with his co-accused, Vincent Ramavhoho, near the farm where they intended to hunt a rhino. (At the request of the owner, the farm’s name is being withheld). Ramavhoho passed away in a vehicle accident shortly after the criminal trial commenced.

Their tracks gave away their wicked intentions. Farm workers had noticed human tracks that were following a set of rhino spoor on the farm. The farm owners were notified immediately, and a tracking team was assembled. This team consisted of three private helicopters, the K9-unit, farmers and experienced trackers from the surrounding farms.

Local police at first held Maluleke and Ramavhoho for questioning after they found them walking along a dirt road close to the farm. The policemen made a request for the K9-unit and trackers to leave the farm to come and inspect the two suspects’ shoes. Unaware of this request for their assistance, the K9-trackers continued to followed the suspicious tracks found near the rhino spoor and were led right up to place in the road where Maluleke and Ramavhoho were being held for questioning.

Sgt. Anton Jongbloed, one of the K9’s dog masters, testified that he was able to lift two cast impressions of the suspicious tracks found on the farm. He was able to match them positively to the shoes that Maluleke and Ramovhoho were wearing at the time of their arrest.

Upon questioning, the two laid bare their plan to hunt a rhino. They also pointed out a place next to the road where they had hidden a .303-rifle, knives and an axe when they heard the approaching helicopters.  

During the trial, Maluleke denied the allegations against him, saying he was never found on the farm, that the rifle belonged to Ramovhoho and that he had been coerced into his confession. The court, however, found that the evidence of the tracks was irrefutable and found Maluleke guilty on all the charges.

Maluleke was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on the charge of illegal hunting, five years for the illegal possession of a firearm, six months for trespassing and one year for the illegal possession of ammunition.  The sentence for the trespassing and possession of ammunition was ordered to run consecutively. This means that, in effect, Maluleke was sentenced to at least 11 years' imprisonment. He will only be eligible for parole after he has served a third of his sentence.

 

 
 
 

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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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