Four men were sentenced on 8 April in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court for consipiracy to poach rhinos near Smithfield.
Andries Melusi Mkhabela (40), Solomon Mahlaule (48), Johannes Maluleke (60) and Daniel Bqaq (31) pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime.
This follows investigation into a case by WO Stefan Grobbelaar after the police received information through its Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative in the Free State about a suspicious vehicle traveling on the N6 towards Bloemfontein. According to the information, there was an unlicensed firearm in the vehicle.
At about 22:27 on 24 September 2023, members of the Bloemfontein Flying Squad stopped an Audi A4, and while they searched the vehicle they found a .458 calibre hunting rifle. The serial number had been filed off.
In the vehicle, police also found nine rounds of ammunition for this rifle, one firearm silencer, several rolls of tinfoil, a cooler bag, and three hunting knives.
The flying squad had been joined by the Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit from Bloemfontein, as the suspicion was that the suspects wanted to poach rhinos in the Bethulie-Smithfield area.
The four pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act.
Maluleke also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
All four men were sentenced to five years of direct imprisonment each, and Maluleke was sentenced to another five years for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
