TWO ELEPHANT TUSKS DEALERS FOUND GUILTY AND SENTENCED
Limpopo- Two elephant tusks dealers, Lesley Mpofu (31) and Kealeboga Makwaeba (36) were each sentenced to five years imprisonment and declared unfit to possess firearms by the Malebogo Magistrate court on 16 May 2023.
The accused were arrested by the Hawks Polokwane based Serious Organised Crime Investigation in February 2020.
The Hawks received information about individuals who were selling elephant tusks in Taibosch outside Bochum, and subsequently conducted a sting operation.
The accused were traced and found carrying a pair of elephant tusks valued at R60 000-00. They were arrested immediately and the elephant tusks were seized.
They were denied bail until they were convicted and sentenced on charges of dealing in elephant tusks.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province, Major General Gopz Govender is ecstatic about the sentences handed down against the accused. ” We are determined to protect the endangered species in our country and we will make sure that all those who are planning to engage themselves in these illegal activities are intercepted and face the full might of the law”. Major General Govender concluded
