A Makhanda paramedic and four Mozambican nationals are facing charges of theft and possession of rhino horn valued at R1.5m.
Sango Abel Mayalo, a paramedic and ambulance driver from Makhanda, and four men believed to be from Mozambique – Manki Ndlovu, Andry Masia, Elton Khosa, and Hilario Carlos – were arrested in the Free State in December, senior state advocate Buks Coetzee confirmed this week.
Two rhino horns were allegedly found in one of two cars the men were travelling in when stopped by police. Police said they found .375 calibre rifle ammunition in the second car.
The rhino horns were linked via microchips to a single Black Rhino poached in the Great Fish River reserve in Committees Drift in late December last year.
The men were remanded in custody at their first appearance in the Grahamstown district court.
They were not asked to plead and will appear in court again on January 23...