By: Sello Theletsane
The Skukuza Regional Court, on Thursday 05 October, sentenced a convicted poacher to an effective thirty-year prison term.
Sidney Sibuyi was part of a three-man, armed poaching gang that entered the Stolznek Section of the Kruger National Park (KNP) illegally on the 26th of September 2020 to hunt rhino. Shots were heard by Field Rangers who reacted and gave chase.
Sibuyi was arrested but his two accomplices managed to evade arrest and are still at large. A bag containing five fresh rhino horns and one heavy calibre rifle silencer were recovered close to the convicted poacher, however the rifle and other poaching equipment was not found on him, indicating the two escapees had those in their possession.
The accused appeared in court on the 26th of September 2023 and indicated that he wants to plead guilty to the following charges:
*Trespassing in a National Park
*Hunting of rhinoceros
*Hunting of rhinoceros
*Hunting of rhinoceros
KConspiracy to commit a crime.
The court sentenced him as follows:
*Count 1 – 2 years imprisonment
*Count 2, 3 and 4 – 10 years imprisonment each
*Count 5 – 4 years imprisonment
The court ordered the sentences in count 1 and 5 to run concurrently with sentence in count 4.
Sibuyi will serve an effective 30 years in prison.
Managing Executive of the KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu congratulated the prosecution, the Ranger Corps , investigators, and the SAPS, saying “we are happy at this heavy sentence imposed by the court and hope it will send a strong message that wildlife crime is a serious matter and has lifelong consequences for those who are caught. Our mandate is to conserve and preserve these magnificent creatures for future generations and for people to mercilessly slaughter three at a go, indicates how callous these criminals are and they deserve these heavy sentences. Our enhanced security measures, dedicated rangers and police will ensure that people pay the price when they get caught inside KNP”, concluded Mthimkhulu.
