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Namibian Wildlife Crimes article archive

This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to articles
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia

Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife crime is one of the pressing environmental issues of our time.

Wildlife crime investigations are generally covert operations requiring utmost confidentiality to succeed. Investigations and prosecutions in complex cases may take months or even years to complete. For this reason, the information that can be released to the public without compromising cases is often limited. Nonetheless, the Namibian government strives to share as much information as possible with the public.

The Namibian media has welcomed this approach and regularly publishes statistics and feature articles on wildlife crime. These are entered into the database at regular intervals, creating a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 50 of 180
Tuesday, 15 October 2024
Maromo J 2024. Buffalo turns tables on illegal hunters in Kruger National Park, charges and kills one poacher.

The group of men was illegally hunting for buffalo in the Kruger National Park when one of them was attacked by a buffalo. "The group shot the buffalo and one of the accomplices removed the injured victim, who was deceased, from the scene and placed him next to the fence of the park. One of them returned home to inform relatives to come and pick him up," said Ledwaba. The alerted relative went and picked up the deceased man's body.

Wednesday, 9 October 2024
Mtembu X 2024. Two Botswana nationals in court for possession and dealing in pangolin.

Two Botswana nationals, Rhine Morgan Kemsley, 35, and Mothusi Malcom Lefa, 49, suspected of illegally possessing and dealing pangolin, an endangered species, have had their day in court. An all-encompassing law enforcement team, according to Captain Lloyd Ramovha of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), made the arrest.

Saturday, 27 July 2024
Zondi N 2024. Criminal threat to KZN reserves.

Durban - Criminals continue to be a major problem for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife game reserves, according to Ezemvelo communications manager Musa Mntambo, who said poachers were breaking fences to catch bush meat, and criminals in neighbouring areas were stealing fence materials and poles. Conservation was given an added boost by Zulu King Misuzulu, who called on traditional leaders to take decisive action against those who endangered the natural heritage. Mntambo said they had engaged with community leaders to address the problems, but this did not always yield good results.

Thursday, 25 July 2024
Sadike M 2024. Convicted rhino poacher blames syndicate bosses for being sentenced to 50 years.

A convicted rhino poacher has blamed his syndicate bosses after receiving a 50-year jail term for illegal hunting in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Dominic Mnisi, 36, Ayanda Ngomane, 31, and Lwazi Malambe, 31, were sentenced to 50, 21 and 33 years direct imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court on Thursday. The trio were convicted by the same court in early June after being found guilty by the presiding magistrate Jan Ngobeni.

Monday, 22 July 2024
Singh K 2024. King Misuzulu issues warning to communities against damaging Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife game reserves' fencing.

King Misuzulu kaZwelithini issued a warning to criminals within communities to stop damaging Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife game reserves’ fencing including cutting fences and stealing poles. The King was speaking during a meeting with an Ezemvelo delegation at his palace in Pongola on Thursday. During his presentation to the King, Ezemvelo chief executive officer Sihle Mkhize, informed the King that Ezemvelo faces challenges beyond rhino poaching, including criminals within neighbouring communities stealing fence materials and poles.

Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Mashamba RJ 2024. Two endangered pangolins seized, duo arrested.

Two suspects appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court in Gauteng on charges of possession of endangered species. This follows the arrest of two suspects, aged 43 and 45, on Friday, June 28. The provincial police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said an operation was conducted by the Cullinan Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit successfully dismantled the endangered species trafficking operation.

Tuesday, 16 April 2024
Mavata K 2024. Law enforcement officers bust abalone poachers along the Atlantic Seaboard.

Cape Town - Law enforcement officers and the abalone poachers were involved in a game of 'hide and seek' until in the early hours of Tuesday morning along the Atlantic Seaboard, after officers received a tip. City law enforcement members in the CBD, as well the marine and environmental unit officers, responded to a complaint of poaching last night. Law enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said poachers were spotted in the water and vehicles associated with their activities were also identified.

Sunday, 24 December 2023
2023. Heroic arrest at KZN game reserve: Rhino poacher caught in the act after killing White Rhino, injuring ranger.

A rhino poacher who was in the process of sawing o the horn of a White Rhino at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal has been arrested just moments after he shot the majestic beast. During the arrest, the HiP Park Manager, Amos Khetha Tembe was injured and was rushed to hospital. The rhino also succumbed to its injuries from the bullets pumped into it by the poacher.

Thursday, 7 December 2023
Francke R-L 2023. PICS: Traditional medicine store owner arrested after several fox skins, elephant foot for muti found.

After a four-month operation, the owner of a traditional medicine store in Cape Town has been arrested after police confiscated various illegal fauna and flora. The store owner is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court soon. The Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk said in order to address the illegal and ongoing stripping of bark from protected tree species in Table Mountain National Park, Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) Cape Town identified a shop in Cape Town which purchased bark and other items from illegal suppliers for muti…

Friday, 24 November 2023
2023. Free-running hounds deployed to curb mostly rhino poaching yield massive results in Kruger National Park.

Poaching in the Kruger National Park has seen a massive decrease in recent years attributed to the introduction of free-running hounds. The dogs were introduced almost eight years ago to arguably South Africa's number one visited national park to curb mostly the poaching of rhinos for their horns.

Sunday, 19 November 2023
Mdaka Z 2023. Police detain suspects on charges of possession of prohibited firearms, abalone.

A 52-year-old man has been arrested after he was found with 446 units of dried abalone in Brackenfell.

Thursday, 16 November 2023
Booysen C 2023. Endangered-plants poacher behind bars for a decade.

A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars at the Kuruman Regional Court after being nabbed with 2 850 endangered and protected plants worth more than R9 million. 

Monday, 13 November 2023
Pillay T 2023. Restorative justice approaches to wildlife crimes.

Durban - South African conservation NGO, the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), has introduced a novel project that seeks to test the use of restorative justice approaches to wildlife crimes - a first for the country. In South Africa, it is an offence to undertake any prohibited or unauthorised activity in respect of any legally protected species.

Thursday, 9 November 2023
Rondganger L 2023. Global environmental crime epidemic fuels multi-billion dollar illicit economy.

These crimes, ranging from illegal wildlife trade to unregulated fishing and the trafficking of rare timber and precious stones, are estimated to be worth between $110 billion and $281 billion annually, positioning them among the most profitable illicit economies worldwide. The report, titled Hidden in Plain Site, is written by Kristina Amerhauser and Robin Cartwright and looks at illicit financial flows (IFFs) related to three specific illicit environmental flows: timber trafficking from Myanmar to China; gemstone trafficking from Mozambique to Thailand; and abalone…

Thursday, 9 November 2023
Rondganger L 2023. Perlemoen Plunder: South Africa's battle against R1 billion a year abalone poaching rings.

The west coastal waters of South Africa are under siege, not from the waves of the Atlantic, but from an insidious tide of environmental crime that is sweeping away one of its most precious marine resources. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime has sounded the alarm on the rampant illicit trade of South African abalone, with the country's Haliotis midae species, locally known as perlemoen (abalone), facing potential extinction due to soaring demand from East Asia. So rampant is this environmental crime that the Global…

Monday, 30 October 2023
2023. Kruger National Park scrambles to minimise snaring of animals by villagers for game meat.

In spite of the surge in snaring of animals in the Kruger National Park officials are scrambling to come up with ways to curb the emerging onslaught to the game for bush meat. With less than two months left until the end of the year field and honorary rangers claim to have removed more than 3 000 snares that were placed across the park to trap the animals. According to the statistics, this ruthless form of poaching has been on the increase in recent years claiming more than 7  000 snares in last year as opposed to 4  000 in 2021. According…

Tuesday, 10 October 2023
Naidoo D 2023. Rhino dehorning debate intensifies as poaching continues in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve.

Rhino Dehorning Debate Intensifies as Poaching Continues in Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve. In the midst of an escalating rhino poaching crisis at the Hluhluwe/iMfolozi (HiP) game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, a contentious debate has arisen over whether dehorning rhinos is an effective strategy to protect them. While some argue that dehorning could deter poachers, others express concerns about its effectiveness and potential consequences. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, responsible for overseeing the park, has voiced reluctance regarding the dehorning approach.

Friday, 6 October 2023
Duba S 2023. Two nabbed in Northern Cape for possession of protected plants.

The Springbok SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (STESU) arrested two men who were driving a vehicle loaded with bags of Conophytum bilobum plants on the R382 road between Steinkopf and Port Nolloth.

Thursday, 5 October 2023
Duba S 2023. Rhino poacher handed 30 years for killing three rhinos in Kruger National Park.

An alleged rhino poacher has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars for killing three rhinos at Kruger National Park in Skukuza. Sydney Sibuyi, 40, was sentenced to thirty years of direct imprisonment in the Skukuza Regional Court on Thursday for poaching-related offences.

Thursday, 28 September 2023
Dube S 2023. Mozambican national sentenced to 10 years for killing a rhino in Kruger National Park.

A Mozambican national has been sentenced to ten years behind bars for killing a rhino at Kruger National Park in Skukuza while serving another jail sentence for a similar offence. The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced a Mozambican national, Lucky Mabunda, 47, to 10 years of direct imprisonment for killing a rhino in Skukuza National Park in 2019.

Thursday, 28 September 2023
Rondganger L 2023. R155 billion a year! The cost of organised crime as South Africa becomes a haven for mafia-style networks.

R155 billion!

Thursday, 28 September 2023
Duba S 2023. Wildlife Crime: Northern Cape man fined R50,000 for trading in pangolin skin.

A Northern Cape man found with a pangolin skin at a truck stop on the N14 Road in Upington was sentenced to a fine of R50,000. Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said that Zandray Dawids, 40, was arrested in January 2021 after being found with pangolin skin at a truck stop on N14 Road in Upington.

Saturday, 23 September 2023
2023. Poaching of lions for their body parts continues to increase in SA.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) says the targeted poaching of lions for parts, including bones, has been increasing in some regions in southern Africa, and this, if unmitigated, could potentially cause future local population declines.

Tuesday, 19 September 2023
2023. Man to appear in court for possession of a pangolin.

A man arrested for the alleged possession of a pangolin is due to appear in court for bail. Kabelo Jantjies, 58, is facing a charge of possession of endangered species. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) said he was arrested in Setlagole outside Mahikeng in the North West province following a tip-off. Hawks spokesperson in the North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tinyiko Mathebula, said the information led members of the Mahikeng Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit to a house in Setlagole, where a search was…

Sunday, 10 September 2023
Muonwa J 2023. Pair busted selling elephant skin for US$1,500.

Two accused persons have appeared in court following their arrest by detectives for allegedly trying to unlawfully dispose off an elephant hide for US$1,500.

Thursday, 7 September 2023
Duba S 2023. Gauteng Hawks bust three men for illegal possession of elephant tusks.

The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Johannesburg and K9 Unit Johannesburg arrested three men who were driving a Nissan Almera loaded with ivory tusks around the Bruma area in Johannesburg. Three suspects, aged between 33 and 35, were arrested on Wednesday in Bruma, Johannesburg, by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Johannesburg and K9 Unit Johannesburg for the illegal possession of elephant tusks.

Friday, 25 August 2023
2023. Mozambican man sentenced to nine years in jail for hunting in the Kruger National Park.

The Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga sentenced 35-year-old Mozambican national Thomas Yingwana to nine years imprisonment for hunting in the Kruger National Park. Police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Yingwana had illegally entered South Africa last year. "The court heard how in November 2022, the accused entered the park before he was caught.

Sunday, 13 August 2023
2023. Abalone poachers, including ex DFFE  employees, jailed.

Ten convicted abalone poachers, five of them employed by the Department Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) at the time of their arrest, were handed hefty sentences in the Western Cape High Court.

Friday, 4 August 2023
2023. East Rand man arrested with rhino horn worth R170,000; three more arrested in North West for rhino horn theft.

A man was arrested in the East Rand after being found in possession of a rhino horn worth an estimated R170,000. The Hawks, working in collaboration with the Benoni K9 Unit, stopped a suspicious Toyota Etios during a routine patrol along the R21 highway near Atlas Road. Upon searching the vehicle, officers discovered a 1.6-kilogram rhino horn concealed in a yellow plastic bag under the driver's seat. The driver, identified as 47-year-old Hlulani Baloyi, was arrested on the spot and subsequently appeared in the…

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
2023. IFP calls for urgent action to curb rhino poaching in KZN, Kruger.

Durban - The IFP in KwaZulu-Natal said it was concerned about the rhino poaching incidents taking place in KZN and the Kruger National Park.

Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Mukoya T 2023. Wildlife trafficking king pins sentenced.

Johannesburg - The Wildlife Justice Commission has heralded the conviction of four for the trafficking of pangolin scales and ivory as a "ground-breaking" move that has laid bare the modus operandi of the criminal networks trafficking wildlife commodities. The commission made the announcement following the conclusion of the trial against three Vietnamese and one Guinean national who were arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service in May 2022 for trafficking 7.1 tonnes of pangolin scales and 850 kilograms of ivory. Phan Viet Chi, Phan…

Sunday, 16 July 2023
2023. Four men arrested with 649 units of abalone.

Four suspects are expected in the Atlantis Magistrate's court after they were nabbed with abalone in their car following a high speed chase at the weekend. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the Atlantis Crime Prevention Unit responded to information early Saturday morning. “When they located the suspicious vehicle, they ordered the driver to stop.

Sunday, 16 July 2023
Bhuta S 2023. Two suspects arrested after being found with R3 million worth of abalone.

Johannesburg - Two suspects were arrested in Gqeberha on Friday after their vehicle was found loaded with 3275 units of wet abalone. It is estimated that the abalone is worth R3 million.

Friday, 14 July 2023
2023. Two nabbed in Northern Cape for possession of protected plants.

The Hawks in Springbok arrested a duo for being in possession of Conophytum with an estimated value of R168,435. Two suspects, aged 22 and 28, were arrested on Thursday, by a multiple disciplinary team composed of Springbok DPCI, Upington counter-narcotics, Steinkopf SAPS, and Namakwa public order policing.

Sunday, 2 July 2023
2023. Hawks arrest foreign national for dealing in pangolin scales in Durban.

Durban - The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) arrested a 35-year-old man for dealing in a protected species without a permit. Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo said that on Thursday Hawks members from Port Shepstone Serious Organised Crime Investigation arrested Sifiso Magagula for dealing in African pangolin without a permit.

Wednesday, 28 June 2023
Sadike M 2023. Kruger National Park conservation efforts see number of rhino increase.

Pretoria - The number of rhino in the Kruger National Park has increased. This after the use of technology and sniffer dogs to deter poaching. In the past financial year, the park reported about 180 cases of rhino poaching, a decrease of 45% compared with previous years. Security camera were installed and 12 more installations are expected.

Wednesday, 28 June 2023
2023. Warrant of arrest for suspect who skipped court after abalone bust.

Cape Town - A warrant of arrest has been issued for a Chinese national who was due to appear in court this week in connection with a R2million abalone bust.

Friday, 23 June 2023
2023. Two suspects got arrested in possession of abalone worth R1.7 million.

Cape Town - The City's Law Enforcement unit continues to arrest suspects for illegal poaching, a crime that, according to Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith, has been linked with firearms and drugs in the Western Cape. Two suspects found in possession of abalone worth an estimated R1.7 million were arrested on Tuesday following a car search by the City's law enforcement team on the R300 highway.

Monday, 19 June 2023
2023. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment clamps down on abalone poaching.

Cape Town - As abalone and crayfish poaching continued unabated in the Overstrand, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has deployed additional resources to fight the scourge. On June 2, authorities found 4 108 abalone, with an estimated street value of R2 million, abandoned in a vehicle in 7th Street in Voëlklip, Hermanus.

Thursday, 15 June 2023
Major victory in rhino poaching war.

Johannesburg - The Eastern Cape High Court sitting in Makhanda imposed heavy prison sentences on six Zimbabwean nationals in what game reserve owners in the Eastern Cape have called a major breakthrough in the war against rhino poaching syndicates. In sentencing the six, Judge GH Bloem referred to the men as a well-organised group of criminals, arrested after stellar investigation by the SAPS, in particular Captain Morné Viljoen of the Eastern Cape Stock Theft Unit. Viljoen and his team, acting on information, apprehended the poachers while they were travelling on the…

Wednesday, 14 June 2023
Marriah-Maharaj J 2023. PICS: Two arrested as police recover abalone worth R3m after high speed chase with Nissan Navara.

Durban - Two men were arrested and charged for illegal possession of abalone worth R3 million after a high speed chase between police and a Nissan Navara, Eastern Cape police said.

Wednesday, 14 June 2023
2023. Suspects in possession of R1.2 million worth of abalone arrested in Century City.

Cape Town - Two men have been charged with possession of abalone after they were caught red-handed with R1.2 million worth of abalone at a house in Century City.

Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Maromo J 2023. R200 000 pangolin sale: Four arrested while selling endangered animals at Mahikeng Mall.

Pretoria - At least four people have been arrested by the Hawks in North West while they were selling two pangolins at a mall. Spokesperson for the Hawks in North West, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, said the two pangolins were being sold for R200 000.

Tuesday, 30 May 2023
2023. Foreign national bust with over R3 million abalone in Cape Town.

Cape Town - A foreign national is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Wednesday after he was found in possession of abalone worth over R634 000.

Saturday, 20 May 2023
2023. 'Pangolin dealer' intercepted and arrested while on his way to sell endangered animal in Limpopo.

Pretoria - A man was arrested in Limpopo for possession of a pangolin, valued at R150 000, while he was on his way to sell the endangered animal.

Sunday, 7 May 2023
2023. Hunt for suspected rhino poacher who fled on foot after abandoning a package near George.

Cape Town - The Oudtshoorn stock theft and endangered species unit is investigating a case of illegal hunting of endangered species after a rhino horn was seized by police on the N2 near George on Wednesday. Following a high-speed pursuit with police, a car reportedly stopped just outside of George and dumped a package containing a rhino horn.

Wednesday, 3 May 2023
2023. Not gone fishing, gone to jail: Two held over abalone poaching.

Collaboration between SAPS Cookhouse and Graaff-Reinet members saw the arrest of two men in connection with the discovery of abalone worth over R3 million on Tuesday night. Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said at about 7pm, SAPS Cookhouse highway patrol members received information of a blue Toyota Camry and a Porsche Cayenne pulling a trailer, travelling on the R75 from Kariega towards Graaff-Reinet with illegal abalone.

Wednesday, 26 April 2023
Duba S 2023. Trio of rhino KNP poachers handed prison terms totalling over 100 years.

Zwelithini Mathebula 37, and Lucky Mhlongo 39, were sentenced to 34 years' imprisonment while their co-accused Teddy Dlamini 37, was sentenced to 39 years' imprisonment. NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, said that the three culprits were arrested in November 2019, along with their two co-accused who absconded after they were granted bail. The three were convicted of killing three rhinos, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of ammunition, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Tuesday, 25 April 2023
Hlati O 2023. Hawks smell something fishy: 6 held in abalone bust.

Cape Town - Swift response by the Hawks National Intervention Unit (NIU) following a tip-off has led to the arrest of six suspects in connection with the discovery of abalone worth more than R2.8 million. The suspects, aged between 26 and 60, were expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's court on Tuesday morning facing charges relating to possession of abalone and managing a drying facility.

Thursday, 13 April 2023
Francke R-L 2023. Prison escapee rearrested at private game reserve is back in court.

Cape Town - A 34-year-old man, who escaped from the Makhanda Correctional Facility in October 2022, appeared in court on new charges. "The suspect was found in possession of hunting implements, and was detained for contravening the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 Sec 57 (attempted hunting of a threatened or protected species without a permit).

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