The DA calls for an audit of all employees and rangers at the Kruger National Park (KNP) to ascertain who may have been charged or convicted of rhino poaching.
This follows the recent court case where poachers were sent to jail by the Skukuza District Court. One of the convicted is Phineas Dinda, a ranger-corporal at KNP. His two co-accused, Arlindo Manyike and Alfa Gwebane, were sentenced to 16 years in jail yesterday.
They were found guilty of trespassing in a National Park, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of an unlicensed firearm, live ammunition and an axe. Manyike was also found guilty of contravening the Immigration Act and trespassing of the National Park.
The convictions follow an incident in 2019 when two rangers were apprehended for involvement in rhino poaching.
These ongoing incidents raise the very worrying trend of insiders at KNP assisting criminals to poach rhinos. It also speaks to the lack of effective security on the eastern borders of KNP and the Mozambican border. The DA calls on SANParks and the KNP to strengthen the border control on the eastern side.
After almost a year since the Skukuza District Court was closed, the DA believes that the opening of this court on 1 April and the functioning of this court is critical in stopping and punishing rhino poachers.
The DA calls on KNP to institute a comprehensive consequence management programme and for a monthly audit of all employees involved in poaching to be undertaken. Information provided to the DA suggests that often suspended rangers or those caught attempting to poach are simply reinstated in their old jobs once internal disciplinary processes have been completed. The recent announcement that polygraph testing will be stepped up is welcomed and it is hoped that this will play a key role in identifying those involved in poaching.
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