News

South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the sentencing of an ex-field ranger, Eckson Musa Matumbu by the Skukuza Regional Court to an effective ten-year jail term. Matumbu was based at the Nwanetsi section in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and was arrested in February 2020 for killing a rhino with an official firearm issued to him and using non-issued ammunition. He was granted bail initially, which was later cancelled; the case was remanded in custody to October 2023 for conviction/sentencing.

Matumbu was found guilty of the following charges:

• Carrying out a restricted activity involving a threatened or protected species in a National Park – 10 years (contravention of Section 57 (1) of Act 10 of 2004)
• Accused was declared unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103 of Act 60 of 2000

The Managing Executive of the KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu said “We are pleased with the sentence as it demonstrates that the law is not selective and deals with everybody who is involved in criminal activities. I hope our colleagues will learn from this case that, regardless of your position, the law will catch up with you. We also appreciate the Skukuza Regional Court for the continued convictions and sentences without fail.”