Rhino 'poachers' get 10 years

2010-03-25 19:06

Johannesburg - Two men accused of poaching rhinoceros have been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment by the Nelspruit Regional Court for possession of illegal weapons, SA National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.

The court has yet to rule on the charges of poaching against Joao Mdlovu and Berlito Mdlovu, who were arrested in January.

Mdlovu is also standing trial in the same court on separate charges of poaching with Phanuel Mnisi.

SANParks spokesperson Zakiya Fareed said the court found the Mdlovus guilty on Tuesday of possession of an automatic firearm and a hunting rifle believed to have been used in the poaching of rhino in the Kruger National Park.

She said 13 rhino had been killed in the park this year and 11 people arrested on poaching charges.

There had been 46 rhino killed throughout the country so far this year.

- SAPA