Durban Organised Crime, Crime Intelligence, Nyathi Anti-Poaching Unit, Special Task Force members were doing their patrols around Zulul and rhino reserve on 24 October 2015 at about 18:00. The members were preventing the killing of rhinos in the area when they saw a man suspected to be poaching the rhinos. The members tried to apprehend the man but he allegedly tried to shoot at the police. The police retaliated and allegedly shoot the suspect. He managed to flee the scene but was later arrested and taken to hospital under police guard. He was found in possession of an unlicensed hunting rifle as well as a 9mm pistol.
The arrested suspect will be charged with illegal poaching of rhinos, pointing with firearm, trespassing, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. The 45-year-old man is due to appear in the Ubombo Magistrate’s Court soon.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni applauded the members for the arrest of the suspect who was allegedly poaching rhinos in the area.
“Rhino poaching is a concern to us and we will do everything to protect our beautiful rhinos from being attacked by criminals”, she said.
