POACHERS SUFFER ANOTHER BLOW AS TWO WERE SEPARATELY SENTENCED
Nelspruit: 10 April 2022 -The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela was elated by the manner in which the court has been dealing with cases regarding poachers in the past few weeks and recently, on Friday 08 April 2022 the cases regarding two poachers were separately finalised. The poachers suffered yet another big blow on that day as the two were sentenced by the Skukuza Regional Court for their share in poaching.
One of the matters finalised in court involves Munandi Mathebula, aged 42 who is said to have been engaged in poaching activities at the Kruger National Park. On 19 January 2015, the accused entered the park with his two accomplices through Kingfisherspruit Section. On that day, Field Rangers noticed some strange human footprints which suggested that about three people had crossed one of the roads in the section.
With the assistance of a tracker dog, the rangers managed to trace and later cornered two of the three intruders where one, unfortunately, disappeared without a trace. The two were identified and one was Mathebula whilst the other was Eugene Malungane, aged 36. The two men were found in possession of a .375 H&H bolt-action rifle as well as 10 cartridges of the rifle and an axe.
Police at Skukuza was brought on board and the two were subsequently arrested and charged accordingly. The case was handled by an astute team of investigators, experts in the field of probing Stocktheft, particularly on matters involving poaching. The two men were then taken to court where they were granted bail however they failed to show up on their next court date. The court then issued a warrant of arrest for the two accused poachers. Police then launched a manhunt for them.
On 28 June 2021 Mathebula was rearrested and this time around bail was successfully opposed by the team of investigators who gave reference to what had transpired the previous time he and his co-accused were granted bail. On 08 April 2022, he pleaded guilty to all the charges against him and he was sentenced to an effective 13 years imprisonment for trespassing in the Kruger National Park, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of unlicensed ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon. The court further declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
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Meanwhile Cassamo Chauke, aged 59 was sentenced in connection with a case involving poaching where he too entered the Kruger National Park illegally so through Malalane Section on 19 January 2019. Field Rangers are said to have been alerted of an intruder (poacher) in the park when they heard the sound of gunshots. The rangers responded and began tracing where they managed to apprehend Chauke in possession of a high calibre hunting rifle, an axe as well as fresh rhinoceros horns.
The carcass of a large bull rhinoceros which was shot and killed with horns removed was discovered. At a distance of about a kilometre away, three more rhinoceros were found, where two were killed and their horns removed whilst the third one was badly wounded though still alive, however, its horns were removed. All by poachers. Eventually, the rhinoceros was put down (euthanized).
The police at Skukuza was informed about the incident and the accused was arrested and charged accordingly. Police also established that Chauke was born in Mozambique but was in South Africa illegally. Through forensic evidence, it was also determined that the rifle that was found in Chauke’s possession was in fact used in the shooting of the said rhinoceros.
Prior to the court sentencing him on the said day (08 April 2022), he pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against him and he was then sentenced to a total of 19 years imprisonment for trespassing in a National Park, contravention of the Immigration Act, hunting of protected animals in the park, possession of a firearm with the intent to commit a crime, possession of an unlicensed firearm. The court also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has reiterated her call for people to observe and obey the laws of the country, including legislation intended to protect and preserve nature and endangered species. “Jointly with our partners in the law enforcement space, we will continue to act decisively without fear or favour against those who break the law. We are glad that the court continues to send a clear message to perpetrators of crime, that those who choose to disobey will be punished” said the General.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
New Health act amendments holds serious implications for all
Only a few days left to comment on the new Health Act Amendments
The time for public comments closed this week.
The Draft Bill states that: “Any person with a confirmed or suspected case of a notifiable medical condition may not refuse to submit to mandatory prophylaxis, treatment, isolation or quarantine in order to prevent transmission”.
In addition, those who have a confirmed case of a notifiable medical condition may not refuse to have a blood sample taken or be taken for quarantine
The draft bill proposes to make face masks mandatory in public spaces, shops, certain workplaces and in public transit as part of the general measures instituted to contain the spread of notifiable medical conditions that can spread through droplets or aerosol.
Access the proposed bill HERE
The DA released the following statement in this regard:
The DA objects to the Regulations in the Government Gazette to the National Health Act 61 of 2003 in the strongest possible terms. There are numerous serious concerns with the proposal and it is very clear that the Regulations were drafted with the sole purpose of shifting lockdown powers to the Minister of Health.
It seems that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government want the lockdown to be over in name only. The Regulations will allow the Health Minister:
While the DA is strongly in favour of vaccinations, we believe in every individual’s right to choose.
These Regulations were plainly drafted to create an alternative avenue for the ANC government to gain unregulated power, which will certainly be used for corruption.
They were also drafted:
These regulations will also place undue burdens on employers and various establishments and possibly violate individual rights and freedoms of those persons who test positive for the virus – all while having no demonstrable effects on reducing the spread of Covid-19.
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The truth is that most countries have lifted their regulations entirely as new variants of Covid-19 seem to be less infectious. They have focused on regenerating their economies to limit the serious economic damage the pandemic caused to households. In South Africa, unemployment lines keep growing and instead of doing everything in its power to halt the economic decline, the ANC government seems focused on holding on to ill-gained powers.
There should be no need whatsoever to return to another National State of Disaster through the Regulations of another piece of legislation.
The DA will make our submissions to the Department of Health, and we encourage all South Africans to email their objections to the Regulations of the National Health Act 61 of 2003 to tsakani.furumele@health.gov.za before 15 April 2022. Together, we can put a stop to the ANC’s dastardly plan to usurp our rights.