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- Three men have been given lengthy sentences for poaching rhinos in the Kruger National Park.
- The armed men were caught by park rangers as they were shooting at rhinos in 2017.
- They were also found in possession of rhino horns.
The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced three men to a combined 105 years in prison for rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.
Police said Walter Hendric Mangane, 59; Shangani Mathebula, 26; and Emmanuel Mdluli, 33, were arrested in 2017 by Kruger National Park rangers.
The armed men were caught shooting at rhinos and in possession of rhino horns.
"A report was received by field rangers about gunshots that were heard in the park. They then responded and followed up on the information and, thereafter, with the assistance of a tracker dog, spotted the men," police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said on Saturday.
He said:
They were arrested and the docket was assigned to the Skukuza Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit for investigation.
The men stood trial and were convicted of trespassing, rhino poaching and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Mathebula, a Mozambican national, faced an additional charge of contravention of the Immigration Act, as he was in the country illegally.
On Friday, the court handed down lengthy prison sentences. Mangane was sentenced to 45 years, while Mathebula and Mdluli received 30 years each.
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