Skukuza – Rhino poacher Sidney Sibuyi has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Sibuyi was part of a three-man poaching gang that unlawfully entered the Stolznek section of the Kruger National Park (KNP) on 26 September 2020.
The armed trio intended to hunt rhino.
Shots were heard by alert field rangers, who reacted and gave chase.
Sibuyi was arrested but his two accomplices managed to get away and are still at large.
A bag containing five fresh rhino horn and a heavy calibre rifle silencer were recovered close to where Sibuyi was apprehended.
However, the rifle and other poaching equipment were not found on him, indicating the two escapees had the items 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
- Conspiracy to commit a crime.
On Thursday, (5 October 2023), the Skukuza Regional Court, sentenced Sibuyi to an effective 30-year prison term.
Commenting on the matter, the Managing Executive of the KNP, Oscar Mthimkhulu congratulated the prosecution, the Ranger Corps, investigators, and the SAPS.
“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,” said Mthimkhulu.
“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.”
The Department of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries reported that 448 rhino were killed for their horn in South Africa in 2022.
Of these 124 rhino were poached in the KNP.
