The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomes the sentencing of a pensioner, named Philip Mfana Masuku (62). He was sentenced by the Skukuza Region Court to spend 14 years behind bars on Thursday, 5 June 2025, for rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park.

The court heard that on 17 February 2019, at around 02h40 am, the Technical Manager at Kruger National Park detected the movements of suspected poachers at the Pretoriuskop section of the park. The Section Ranger was notified and immediately deployed Field Rangers to follow up on the information.

During the search, they managed to pick up three fresh sets of footprints, and they began to trace. Some hours later, three suspects were spotted sitting along the Voortrekker road. When Rangers approached them, two managed to evade and flee the scene while the third one, who was later identified as Masuku, was apprehended with four (04) rhino horns and two (02) knives in his possession.

The incident was then reported to the Skukuza Police Station, and Masuku was charged accordingly.

Masuku first appeared at the Bushbuckridge District Court, where he was granted bail. His case was transferred to the Skukuza Regional Court, and Masuku attended court from outside the park. However, he later absconded from attending, which resulted in a warrant of arrest being issued. A trace operation was then conducted, and Masuku was rearrested.

He attempted to apply for bail again during his second detention, but it was opposed due to a fraudulent medical certificate that he submitted to support his application, which was confirmed through police investigations.

The trial proceeded at the Skukuza Regional Court on 05 June 2025, and he was sentenced to 14 years’ direct imprisonment on charges of Trespassing in a National Park, illegal hunting of two white Rhinoceroses, Conspiracy to commit a crime, as well as possession of dangerous weapons. Masuku was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner expressed his appreciation to the Investigation team, the Field Rangers, Prosecutors, and the Judiciary for playing their role in making sure that the man is put behind bars.