South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed sentences imposed for rhino poaching related crimes in two separate cases that have been finalised in Mpumalanga.The trials were concluded in the Mhala regional court in February and March. In one matter three people who were arrested in August 2018 were convicted of rhino poaching related charges including possession of two sets of rhino horns, a high calibre hunting rifle, ammunition and trespassing in a national park with the intention of committing crime as well as the illegal hunting of an endangered animal. The main accused, Peter Mathebula was given an effective sentence of 23 years behind bars while his two co-accused, Mustard Mathebula and Artur Valoyi were sentenced to an effective four years each in jail.