Poachers shot in 'self-defence'

2008-01-07 12:01

Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

Pafuri - The Makuleke Community Association (CPA) will cover the legal costs of four game rangers charged with killing two suspected poachers and injuring another outside the Kruger National Park.

CPA spokesperson, Livingstone Maluleke, said the rangers had acted in self-defence. The rangers work for Ndomeni Game Rangers, which are paid by the CPA and its concession partners to patrol the 22 000-hectare Pafuri Triangle wilderness area. The Pafuri Triangle includes the northern parts of the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Madimbo Corridor, which border Zimbabwe and are part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

"We are sad that people lost their lives, as killing is no way to solve problems, but the rangers had no choice as the men were heavily armed in a protected area," said Maluleke.

The shooting incident took place at about midnight on Sunday, December 30, in bushes in the Madimbo Corridor near Masisi.

Big guns

Maluleke said poaching was a problem in the area where rhinos, buffalo and elephant had been killed.

He said the suspected poachers were carrying guns and travelling in a bakkie.

"If these guys have guns big enough to kill elephants, you must already understand how dangerous they are," Maluleke said.

He said that from the CPA's point of view, the rangers were been doing their jobs and were innocent until proven otherwise.

He said the CPA would assign a legal team to represent the rangers when they appear in the Mutale Magistrate's Court again on February 21.

He said the CPA would also organise anti-poaching awareness campaigns in the area.

Limpopo police spokesperson Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said no charges had been laid against the surviving poaching suspect, who is recovering at Musina hospital.

He said the suspect had told police that he and his friends had merely been guarding cattle that were grazing in the area.

"We are still investigating, however, and also waiting for the court's ruling against the rangers," said Ramatseba.

The two slain poaching suspects were buried in Musina this past weekend.

The Makuleke CPA won a land claim on the Pafuri Triangle in 1997. They gained full rights to commercialise land in the Kruger and entered partnerships with private investors to build game lodges and camps, including the exclusive The Outpost, on condition that the Makuleke people receive training and jobs.

The area is managed by a Joint Management Board (JMB) comprising representatives of the CPA and South African National Parks (SANParks).

- African Eye