FIELD RANGERS SENTENCED TO TWENTY YEARS DIRECT IMPRISONMENT EACH FOR POACHING-RELATED OFFENCES
Skukuza, South Africa – The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced two former field rangers, Lucky Mkanzi (30) and Nzima Joel Sihlangu (32), to twenty years of direct imprisonment each for their involvement in poaching-related offences. Both rangers were stationed at the Crocodile Bridge section of the Kruger National Park and were convicted on three counts: conspiracy to commit an offence and the killing of two rhinos.
The crimes occurred between 25 and 30 December 2018, during which time the accused were on the day shift. Concerns arose when their supervisor received information suggesting that Mkanzi and Sihlangu may have been involved in the killing of rhinos. Prompted by these suspicions, the supervisor requested tracking records for the vehicle used by the accused during that period. Investigations revealed that the vehicle had been stationary at the location where the two rhinos were found dead, providing key evidence linking the rangers to the poaching incident.
To substantiate the case against the accused, State Prosecutor Lot Mgiba presented testimonies from their supervisor and a tracking expert, who confirmed the vehicle’s movements. The supervisor’s testimony included details that Mkanzi and Sihlangu were not authorized to conduct night shifts without prior approval. Additionally, police officers testified about a raid on Sihlangu’s residence, where they discovered cash payments made for the sale of rhino horns.
After careful consideration of the evidence, the court found the pair guilty on all charges. Mkanzi and Sihlangu received sentences of four years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit an offence and ten years for killing the two rhinos. The court ordered these sentences to run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of twenty years of direct imprisonment for each accused. Furthermore, the court ordered the forfeiture of cash found in their possession to the state.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentencing of Mkanzi and Sihlangu, reaffirming its commitment to prosecuting environmental crime. “Poaching is a serious crime that poses a significant threat to endangered species and carries lifelong consequences for the environment and biodiversity,” the NPA stated. The organization emphasises the importance of holding offenders accountable and protecting wildlife for future generations.
