A SUSPECTED rhino poaching mastermind was granted R1million bail by the Musina magistrate's court
Dewald Gouws, a game farmer who is believed to have been the brains behind the illegal hunting in the province, could not believe it when the court demanded that he pay R1million for his bail.
He was appearing with 10 of his co-accused.
His accomplices were identified as Nardus Rossouw, Tielman Roos Erasmus, Leon van der Merwe, Dawie Groenewald, Sariette Groenewald, Karel Toet, Manie du Plessis, Mariza Toet, Martinus Pronk and Paul Matomela.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the accused were facing charges ranging from assault, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and the contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday after intensive investigations involving members of the police's special units, the Hawks and Green Scorpions.
In total the court demanded R1,3 million for the temporary release of all the suspects.
They paid the bail after bringing cash carried in a mealie-meal bag to court.
The suspects included two veterinarians who were suspected to be part of the syndicate maiming rhinos and selling their horns.
Police said their arrestwas aimed at curbing poaching, which is increasing as a result of international demand for rhino horns in countries such as Asia, Vietnam and parts of Europe.
Rhinos have been targeted by brutal poachers in past years as syndicates allegedly colluded to supply their sought-after horns to international markets.
The horns are allegedly used to produce medication that supposedly boosts sexuality and also treats some resistant diseases.
The Kruger National Park has suffered severely over the past few years, having the world's largest rhino population, as poachers targeted the species so that many were ultimately killed there.
Farmers union Agri-SA has also expressed concern about the alarming cases of illegal hunting and suggested that the government move to legalise the sale of rhino horns.
lMeanwhile, as cases of rhino poaching escalate across the country, KwaZulu-Natal has been the least affected province with only 14 rhinos lost, KZN Wildlife spokesperson Jeff Gaisford said.
He was speaking during the "Make noise for Rhinos Day" awareness campaign.
There have been 461 reported cases of environmental crimes this year and the public had been urged to blow their vuvuzelas at 1pm, in support of the awareness campaign.
Rhino poaching accused on bail
A SUSPECTED rhino poaching mastermind was granted R1million bail by the Musina magistrate's court
Dewald Gouws, a game farmer who is believed to have been the brains behind the illegal hunting in the province, could not believe it when the court demanded that he pay R1million for his bail.
He was appearing with 10 of his co-accused.
His accomplices were identified as Nardus Rossouw, Tielman Roos Erasmus, Leon van der Merwe, Dawie Groenewald, Sariette Groenewald, Karel Toet, Manie du Plessis, Mariza Toet, Martinus Pronk and Paul Matomela.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the accused were facing charges ranging from assault, defeating the ends of justice, fraud, corruption, malicious damage to property to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and the contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.
The suspects were arrested on Tuesday after intensive investigations involving members of the police's special units, the Hawks and Green Scorpions.
In total the court demanded R1,3 million for the temporary release of all the suspects.
They paid the bail after bringing cash carried in a mealie-meal bag to court.
The suspects included two veterinarians who were suspected to be part of the syndicate maiming rhinos and selling their horns.
Police said their arrestwas aimed at curbing poaching, which is increasing as a result of international demand for rhino horns in countries such as Asia, Vietnam and parts of Europe.
Rhinos have been targeted by brutal poachers in past years as syndicates allegedly colluded to supply their sought-after horns to international markets.
The horns are allegedly used to produce medication that supposedly boosts sexuality and also treats some resistant diseases.
The Kruger National Park has suffered severely over the past few years, having the world's largest rhino population, as poachers targeted the species so that many were ultimately killed there.
Farmers union Agri-SA has also expressed concern about the alarming cases of illegal hunting and suggested that the government move to legalise the sale of rhino horns.
lMeanwhile, as cases of rhino poaching escalate across the country, KwaZulu-Natal has been the least affected province with only 14 rhinos lost, KZN Wildlife spokesperson Jeff Gaisford said.
He was speaking during the "Make noise for Rhinos Day" awareness campaign.
There have been 461 reported cases of environmental crimes this year and the public had been urged to blow their vuvuzelas at 1pm, in support of the awareness campaign.
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