Additional arrests are anticipated in the battle to protect South Africa’s rhinos.
South Africa’s high-profile rhino crime syndicate investigation is expected to net several more shocking suspects from within the conservation community.
A spokesperson from the SANParks investigation team, Ken Maggs, said via South Africa’s News24 that conservationists are in for major shakeup.
I hate to say it, but these are people who are involved in nature conservation. It’s going to turn the game industry upside down and it’s going to shock many people.
We have already issued warrants for the arrests. It’s going to happen soon.
He also noted that 112 people have been arrested so far this year for involvement with rhino killing incidents.
Criminal trial for nine syndicate suspects
In less than a week, the criminal trial for nine alleged rhino crime syndicate members is expected to begin at the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The accused include George Fletcher of Sandhurst Safaris and Gert Saaiman of Saaiman Hunting Safaris.
Multiple charges have been brought against this group, including racketeering, money laundering, various counts of theft, malicious damage to property and contraventions of the various provincial Conservation Acts and the Aviation Act.
Eleven suspects granted bail on World Rhino Day
On September 22nd, Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris’ Dawie Groenewald appeared in the Musina magistrate’s court, along with ten others suspected of rhino crime syndicate involvement. It was found that Groenewald had also purchased nearly 30 rhinos from Kruger National Park, which authorities suspect were butchered for their horns and buried on Groenewald’s “Pragtig” farm.
Although rhinos can be de-horned, there is speculation that Groenewald killed the rhinos to avoid upkeep costs, which would have decreased the profit margin between the sale of the rhino’s horns and the purchase price of a live rhino.
Groenewald and the others were granted bail by the Musina court’s magistrate Errol Luiters. The release date coincided with World Rhino Day, an event to raise awareness about South Africa’s rhino poaching scourge.
The eleven suspected rhino crime syndicate members are scheduled to appear in court again on April 11th, 2011, to face charges of assault, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and contravening the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
Rhino killings driven by demand for traditional ‘medicines’
Rhinos are under siege, due to the demand from China and Vietnam for illegal rhino horn in traditional medicines. However, rhino horn has been scientifically tested and proven to have no medicinal value.
According to WWF, more than 600 rhinos have been gunned down since 2005, and the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC found that rhino horn from southern Africa is destined for consumer markets in China and Vietnam.
Source: News24
Image: istock.com
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