TWO RHINO POACHERS ARRESTED

EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE 
MEDIA RELEASE: TWO RHINO POACHERS ARRESTED 

A joint under-cover operation involving Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo) and the Durban Organised Crime Unit resulted in the arrest of two men who are suspected to be members of rhino poaching syndicates operating around Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. 

Both suspects were arrested on Friday afternoon; one outside Melmoth and another in Mtubatuba.

One of the arrested suspect works for Ezemvelo as the Field Ranger stationed at Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. He joined Ezemvelo in 2004. 

The Investigators have been monitoring the activities of the arrested suspects for more than a year and are confident that the evidence gathered will result in a court conviction. 

The Durban Organised Crime Unit further searched the homes of the suspects till late on Friday to obtain more evidence.

The CEO of Ezemvelo, Dr B Mkhize, has expressed his appreciation to both the Durban Organised Crime Unit and Ezemvelo investigators on the manner in which they went about planning and finally arresting the suspects. “I am excited about these arrests, even more so about the arrest of one of my staff members as he does not deserve to work for Ezemvelo. I trust that these arrests will demonstrate to the public that Ezemvelo is serious about flushing out the rhino poaching syndicates.”

He also pleaded with the public to contribute towards rhino poaching by sending the word “SAVE” to 44135 at a cost of R1.50 to help Ezemvelo raise funds that will be used to purchase equipment needed to fight these professional syndicates which are using sophisticated poaching equipment. 

The suspects’ names have been withheld until they have appeared in Mtubatuba Magistrate Court on Monday

M/M Media Release No. 14. Two Rhino Poachers arrested.
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For further information contact the Communications Manager, Musa Mntambo on 033 845 1743/ 083 284 9586 or e-mail mntambom@kznwildlife.com