LENGTHY JAIL TERM FOR SKUKUZA POACHER
The Skukuza Regional Court has today convicted and sentenced Sylvester Zitha (40), to 17 years imprisonment, for poaching-related offences. Zitha was convicted of trespassing, possession of a firearm with a silencer, possession of ammunition, killing of a rhino, possession of an axe and conspiracy to commit an offence. On 19 October 2019, the rangers found a dead rhino and followed tracks. They found Zitha and Ricardo Phiri, at the Tshokwane Section of the Skukuza National Park, in possession of a hunting rifle and two fresh rhino horns. Both were subsequently arrested; Phiri was granted bail and absconded.
In court, Zitha pleaded not guilty and state Prosecutor Lot Mgiba led evidence of two field rangers who apprehended the accused, the evidence of the police officers who handled the crime scene was also led. It proved that the accused are the ones who killed a rhino. The court found the evidence of the state witnesses credible, and the accused was found guilty as charged.
Poaching hurts the economy and tourism sector, and the National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the conviction and sentence.
