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According to South African National Parks spokesman, Reynold Thakhuli all six were arrested through the efforts of the SANParks Environmental Crime Investigators “and they were found guilty for the illegal hunting and dehorning of a white rhino bull under Section 57 (1) of the National Environment Management: Biodiversity Act No 10 of 2004.

He said, in terms of this act a person may not carry out a restricted activity involving a specimen of a listed threatened or protected species without a permit issued in terms of Chapter 7″. “The six were found guilty of having perpetrated the alleged activity in the Mapungubwe National Parks & World Heritage Site in the Limpopo Province during July 2014.

The six included Mr Job Tlou; Mr Percy Manengena; Mr Johannes Podile Sematla; Mr Lebala Sematla; Mr Masolo Saul Sematla all five (5) sentenced to 15 years imprisonment and Mr Albino Fernando Sematla sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Thakhuli said that it should be noted that anyone who does anything that is illegal or untoward to South Africa”s wildlife will face the full might of the law. “As South African National Parks we applaud the Magistrate for applying the prescripts of the law in this case that lasted two years to finalise, but ultimately we are happy with the sentencing.”

Issued By

South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications
Tel: 0124265170

Media Enquiries:
Reynold Thakhuli
Acting Head of Communications: SANParks
Tel: 0124265203; cell: 0733734999
E-mail: [email protected]

Divhani Maremba
Northern Region: Communications Manager
Tel: 0124265304; cell: 0745885789
E-mail: [email protected]