News

The South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 18 June 2021 welcomed the sentencing of a rhino poacher to a total of 23 years in prison for rhino poaching and other offences by the Skukuza Regional Court prosecuting team.

Alsony Alberto Valoyi, an illegal immigrant from Mozambique, pleaded guilty in the Skukuza Regional Court to six rhino poaching related charges after he was arrested inside the Kruger National Park (KNP) in November 2016.

Meanwhile, three rhino poaching suspects have been arrested on separate incidents in the past seven days at Lower Sabie section of the Park.

The Managing Executive of the KNP, Gareth Coleman has congratulated all the teams involved in the arrests and successful conviction of suspects saying “in the last seven days we have noticed 25 poaching activities indicating the relentless onslaught that is being waged against our natural heritage by criminal syndicates. We are grateful to have colleagues who are equal to the task of protecting our fauna and flora and continue to call on our communities to match the efforts of the Rangers for us to defeat these criminals. We thank the tourists who assisted in one of the arrests and encourage everyone to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities”.

The organization expressed shock and disbelief at the brazen killing of a suspected poaching Kingpin in Hazyview on Thursday, 17 June 2021 in broad daylight. He was due to face trial soon in connection with a spate of rhino poaching cases.

Issued By

South African National Parks, Kruger National Park

Media Enquiries

Isaac Phaahla
GM: Communications & Marketing, SANParks
Tel: 013 735 4262; Cell 083 673 6974
Email: [email protected]