Tebogo Msimanga |
A 59 male suspect believed to be a kingpin of the rhino poaching syndicate between Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces is expected to appear before the Hoedspruit Periodical court on Monday 29 May 2023.
He was arrested during a joint intelligence operation conducted by the Provincial Stock Theft Unit, Hoedspruit police and local Farm Watch and Policing Forum on Saturday 27 May 2023 at about 17:00 in the Mopàni District.
Limpopo Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the police received information about two suspects who were driving a Grey Toyota Bakkie that was suspected to be involved in rhino poaching in Lydenburg, Mpumalanga province.
“The motor vehicle was spotted driving along the R531 public road at Klaserie One Stop Station in Kampersrus and immediately set-up a stop and search operation in the vicinity with the attempt to block the suspect’s motor vehicle”.
Ledwaba added that while approaching the roadblock, the suspects unexpectedly made a U-turn and drove back in the same direction. A car chase ensued for about 6 kilometers until it stopped in the middle of the road and one suspect vacated the motor vehicle and managed to flee into the bushes to evade an arrest and dropped a black bag on the road.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is linked with a series of cases that include murder, racketeering and rhino poaching that were committed this year in Mpumalanga province.
