Three more people have been named in the recent arrest of nine rhino poaching syndicate “masterminds” responsible for killing hundreds of rhinos.
The names of three more people believed to be responsible the killing of hundreds of rhinos in South Africa have been released by the media: Dawie Groenewald and his wife Sariette, of Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris in Polokwane, and Tielman Erasmus, a professional hunter, are now behind bars and awaiting their Wednesday court appearance.
Also among the nine people arrested are veterinarian Dr. Karel Toet and his wife, Marisa, along with one of Toet’s partners, Dr. Manie du Plessis. The doctors own Nylstroom animal clinic and Limpopo Wildlife, which is involved with catching and transporting game on farms.
Suspended from PHASA, banned from Zimbabwe – and arrested in the US
South Africa’s News24 noted that Groenewald is a former police official who was suspended four years ago from the Professional Hunters Association, and has apparently been banned since 2004 from hunting in Zimbabwe.
It was also reported that Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris was working with Mugabe henchmen.
During the height of political instability in Zimbabwe, the organisation apparently organised hunting safaris on farms and land invaded by Zanu-PF’s “war veterans”.
In addition, Groenewald was arrested in the US earlier this year for his involvement with the illegal hunting of a leopard.
His punishment amounted to slap on the wrist: A USD $30,000 (R228,000) fine, USD $7,500 (R57,000) in damages to the American hunter, eight days in an American jail, and two months of house arrest.
A helicopter connection
With helicopters being used in many rhino poaching cases in South Africa, it is not surprising that Groenewald is believed to be connected to a “closed corporation” which owns a Robinson R44 helicopter. The registration is ZS-HBH, according to the South African Aircraft register.
The helicopter is said to be owned by Valinor Trading 142, of which his wife, Sariette, is listed as a director.
Court date set for ‘World Rhino Day’
Scheduled to appear in the Musina magistrate’s court on Wednesday, September 22, for their alleged involvement in killing hundreds of rhinos, sawing off their horns, and hiding the bodies:
- Dr. Karel Toet – Nylstroom animal clinic and Limpopo Wildlife
- Marisa Toet – Nylstroom animal clinic and Limpopo Wildlife
- Dr. Manie du Plessis – Nylstroom animal clinic
- Dawie Groenewald – Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris in Polokwane
- Sariette Groenewald – Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris in Polokwane
- Tielman Erasmus – professional hunter
Perhaps coincidentally, the September 22 court date happens to fall on World Rhino Day.
Source: News24
Image: istock.com
![Rhino Horns and Trophies Exported to Asia from South Africa 2000 – 2010 [Infographic]](http://www.rhinoconservation.org/wp-content/plugins/special-recent-posts/lib/phpimage.php?width=100&height=100&rotation=no&file=L2hvbWUyL2Jpb2RpdmUxL3B1YmxpY19odG1sL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDEyLzA1L1JoaW5vVHJvcGhpZXNIb3Juc0luZm9ncmFwaGljVGh1bWJuYWlsLmpwZw==)
You people are all sick, sick, sick!
Well I hope
1.Nylstroom animal clinic and Limpopo Wildlife
2. Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris in Polokwane
go out of business. I hope NOBODY supports them and their families. There are no words that describe these type of people. These poor poor animals!!! DISGUSTING!!! A VET, A Tourist attraction for SA, (all involved with animals,) the sly inhumane beings!! May ■Dr. Karel Toet – ■Marisa Toet – ■Dr. Manie du Plessis – ■Dawie Groenewald – ■Sariette Groenewald – ■Tielman Erasmus – all ROT IN HELL!
It is sick minds in dead, they all should pay for the crimes and causing so much pain and suffering. Vets and apparent wildlife and safari operators, no morality no ethics in professionalims no moral in their humanity. It is as bad or worst as finding out that the school teacher or the parish priest are the actual pedofiles in the community… desgraceful individuals
DISGRACEFUL !!!!! DISGUSTING ! Throw them in jail and throw away the key! Let them ROT in HELL !!!!
They should be sent to jail for life!
What a despicable bunch of individuals.
Their faces should be published in every newspaper across SA so they can never walk into a cafe, coffee shop or supermarket without feeling ashamed. Possibly these types of people never feel anything.
Disgusting individuals. Sell all their assets and use the proceeds to fight the crimes against animal abuse. Assholes like these should NOT have the right to breath. I am ashamed to have the same skin color as these ass wipes.
We have had long discussions about this issue over the last week, and, everyone agrees, that if they aren’t jailed for a long enough time, they should have their noses cut off. Seriously. Let everyone know who they are.
By the way: Is that additional chopper, beach house, case of whiskey, large watch, silk sheet, first class travel, hotter woman (or whatever you get with your money) worth becoming the most disgraced men on earth?
kill those pieces of shit, scum like that we dont need amongs us, they meed to rot like shit!!!!!!!!!!!! give them to me to sort out and ill show you justice!!
I am ashamed of these criminals. Quote: Evil is the total lack of sympathy or empatchy with another human or animal. Thank the Lord that SA has good legal system, where they can be punished accordingly.
these people from out of africa are bad news, devils in the making of this world and their existance, they are crooks and they have damaged our business here in Tanzania leaving without paying government fees and threatening our lives. they should be taken to the hague…
I hunted with them in zim after traveling to africa to shoot a sable they had no permit for they asked if I wanted to shoot one anyways and they would “massage” the books so we could take it out of the country. I refused and reported them. It took years to get my money back and in the process I was called everything including a liar and was threatened repeatedly by them. I am glad to see they have finally been exposed but what about his brother and his company they were directly involved in my instance and nothing has been done…..
Musina April 11 ~ and now it’s 13 who stand accused of rhino killings. Case postponed for further investigation to 30 September.