Three men arrested in Grahamstown for alleged rhino poaching hours after an animal was killed on a nearby game reserve on Friday will have to wait a month before applying for bail.
George game ranger Forget Ndlovu, 40, and Port Elizabeth-based Jabulani Ndlovu, 38, and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, 37, (they are not related) were allegedly arrested in possession of a rhino horn, dart gun, tranquillisers and other equipment by police soon after a rhino was poached on Bucklands Private Game Reserve.
Magistrate Lindelwa Figlan yesterday upheld a request by state advocate Buks Coetzee that the men remain in custody until July 25 to give police more time to investigate. She also ordered no photos be published of the two Zimbabweans and South African until a planned police identity parade had been done.
The men were represented by senior counsel, Advocate Terry Price, and attorney Sizwe Maci.
The defence team spent more than an hour consulting with their clients in the court holding cells before their brief court appearance.
Price told the court they had agreed on a date with Coetzee for the men’s next court appearance prior to proceedings yesterday.
The men were arrested on Friday night at a self-catering chalet at the Makana Resort on the outskirts of Grahamstown.
Police allegedly found a freshly harvested, 72cm-long white rhino horn, darting rifle, tranquillisers, darts, saws, knives, several cellphones, camping gear and food rations during the raid.
Two hire cars were also seized.
The horn was estimated to be worth R1.2-million.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said on Monday the men were also being investigated for “possible” links to 10 other rhino poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
She said the arrests were a “major breakthrough” in the fight against poaching syndicates.
Although the Eastern Cape has not been as hard hit by rhino poachers compared to inland hotspots, experts warned months ago it could increase dramatically after extra security was deployed at the Kruger National Park.
Since January, 18 rhino have been poached and dehorned in the province, with only three surviving.
Over the years, Price has been involved in several high-profile cases including the defence of disgraced former tennis star and rapist Bob Hewitt.
In 2012 he acted for Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai who was jailed for 40 years for illegally exporting rhino horn.
The sentence was later reduced to 13 years on appeal. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Rhino poaching suspects stay in jail
George game ranger Forget Ndlovu, 40, and Port Elizabeth-based Jabulani Ndlovu, 38, and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, 37, (they are not related) were allegedly arrested in possession of a rhino horn, dart gun, tranquillisers and other equipment by police soon after a rhino was poached on Bucklands Private Game Reserve.
Magistrate Lindelwa Figlan yesterday upheld a request by state advocate Buks Coetzee that the men remain in custody until July 25 to give police more time to investigate. She also ordered no photos be published of the two Zimbabweans and South African until a planned police identity parade had been done.
The men were represented by senior counsel, Advocate Terry Price, and attorney Sizwe Maci.
The defence team spent more than an hour consulting with their clients in the court holding cells before their brief court appearance.
Price told the court they had agreed on a date with Coetzee for the men’s next court appearance prior to proceedings yesterday.
The men were arrested on Friday night at a self-catering chalet at the Makana Resort on the outskirts of Grahamstown.
Police allegedly found a freshly harvested, 72cm-long white rhino horn, darting rifle, tranquillisers, darts, saws, knives, several cellphones, camping gear and food rations during the raid.
Two hire cars were also seized.
The horn was estimated to be worth R1.2-million.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said on Monday the men were also being investigated for “possible” links to 10 other rhino poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
She said the arrests were a “major breakthrough” in the fight against poaching syndicates.
Although the Eastern Cape has not been as hard hit by rhino poachers compared to inland hotspots, experts warned months ago it could increase dramatically after extra security was deployed at the Kruger National Park.
Since January, 18 rhino have been poached and dehorned in the province, with only three surviving.
Over the years, Price has been involved in several high-profile cases including the defence of disgraced former tennis star and rapist Bob Hewitt.
In 2012 he acted for Thai national Chumlong Lemtongthai who was jailed for 40 years for illegally exporting rhino horn.
The sentence was later reduced to 13 years on appeal. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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