State takes a hard line in rhino poaching case

Four of the 10 people accused of being part of a rhino poaching syndicate likened to the Mafia have been refused bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court, Beeld reports. Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair held that the state has a 'massive and extensive' prima facie case. Several witnesses plan to testify in terms of section 204 of the Criminal Procedures Act. Trudie Ras (38), wife of the alleged leader Hugo Ras (40), Willem Andries van Jaarsveld (41), pilot Bonnie Steyn (53) and Abraham Smit (36), the brother of Trudie, were all denied bail. They were arrested on 19 September together with six other alleged syndicate members in an operation spanning four provinces. Five more bail applications will be heard tomorrow (Wednesday). Another accused, attorney Joseph Joshua Wilkinson (43), from Pretoria, was previously denied bail in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria). The accused face 318 charges, among them racketeering, money laundering, theft and illegal trading in rhino horn. Lawyers for the four accused who were refused bail on Friday said they plan to appeal to the High Court. Full Beeld report

Earlier, the court heard how the group linked to rhino poaching allegedly made millions of rand by killing the wild animals. A report in The Herald notes that prosecutor Joanie Spies told the court the syndicate had allegedly made R5.5m from killing 22 rhinos and R16m through rhino horn sales. She also told how the alleged poachers operated in various provinces, according to the report which says the suspects allegedly targeted state and privately owned game reserves in Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State and North West. Full report in The Herald (subscription needed)

One of the men accused of being part of a rhino-poaching syndicate could face more criminal charges in the US. A Daily News report states that Abraham Smit's legal representative, Sas Erasmus, said there was an international warrant of arrest from Interpol against his client, and that it had been attached to the docket. A member of Interpol was present during the court proceedings. Smit's passport has been handed over to the state, the report says. Full Daily News report

In another rhino poaching case, a Kruger National Park (KNP) ranger who spoke out against rhino poaching, now stands accused of working with the criminals, notes a report in The Times. Lawrence Baloyi told international journalists on-camera of the dangers of fighting poachers who lured young men with the promise of unheard of amounts of money. But last week, Baloyi, Andrea Mabunda and Shakes Baloyi appeared in the White River Magistrate's Court for a bail hearing. The three are charged with rhino poaching and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The report notes that as a section ranger in the Lower Sabie area Baloyi had on occasion dealt with the press. In an interview with Voice of America, he said that to fight rhino poaching you needed to have your heart in it. He said he knew how easy it was for young men to be pulled into poaching. Park spokesperson William Mabasa said it was the first time he had heard of a section ranger being arrested for alleged poaching. Baloyi was arrested on 22 September when four SAPS detectives heard gunshots while investigation an old rhino carcass. They went up in a helicopter spotted a dead rhino. A dog unit was called to the scene and the two alleged poachers, Mabunda and Shakes Baloyi, were spotted nearby, the report states. Full report in The Times (subscription needed)

The relocation of some of the Kruger National Park's white rhino began last week, SA National Parks said. A report on the News24 site notes this comes after Cabinet adopted a management strategy in August aimed at curbing the devastating poaching of rhinos. 'Relocation is the core of our approach, not only to combat poaching, but to ensure the continued growth of the rhino population,' SANParks chair Kuseni Dlamini said. 'We aim to restimulate growth in protected areas while creating rhino strongholds. We will be able to offset the effects of poaching in the short to medium term, while expanding rhino range and improving the overall population size.' An auction would take place later in the year, the report quotes him as saying. Full report on the News24 site

SANParks has placed an advertisement in the Sunday Times calling for bids for their white rhinos as part of its rhino management strategy. A report on the IoL site notes that the advertisement invites people to place offers to 'purchase white rhinos in batches of 20 or more'. Relocation and auctioning of the rhino formed the main tenets of the strategy. All bids would be 'assessed for functionality, including habitat suitability and security assessment,' the advert said. The sales would also be subject to a memorandum of agreement. The money raised from the sales would be ploughed back into conservation. Full report on the IoL site

The Australian Government has confirmed holding 'preliminary discussions' on plans to move up to 80 rhinos from SA to create a new breeding herd on the Western Plains of Australia. A Cape Times report states that if the plan gets final approval from both nations, the rhinos would be shifted in batches of about 20 animals a year to bolster an existing small breeding herd of white and black rhinos at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, about six hours north-west of Sydney. Ray Dearlove, a former South African who is raising funds for the project in Australia, said all rhinos imported from this country would remain the property of the SA Government and could serve as an insurance policy against extinction, according to the report. It notes department spokesperson Albi Modise said a project of this magnitude would need to go beyond normal legal requirements. This should include a detailed security threat analysis and habitat suitability assessment and might also require a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the two nations, the report states. Full Cape Times report

A 200-strong crowd marched through a busy Dr Pixley Ka Seme Street (formerly West Street) last weekend to protest against rhino and elephant poaching. With placards held aloft, they walked behind a fibreglass cast of a rhino, being pulled by a 4x4, says a Sunday Tribune report. The marchers chanted slogans against poaching, including, 'Extinction is forever, stop the poaching now!' The march started at King Dinuzulu Park and ended at the City Hall, where a memorandum was handed over to a city official who was acting on behalf of mayor James Nxumalo. The protest was one of 126 marches taking place simultaneously across the world as part of the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos campaign, the report states. Full Sunday Tribune report (subscription needed)

Five rhino horns have been stolen from Arnold Pistorius, the uncle of culpable homicide-convicted Oscar Pistorius, says a report on the News24 site. Anneliese Burgess, spokesperson for the Pistorius family, confirmed the theft from a walk-in safe at Pistorius' business premises in Waterkloof in Pretoria. The theft was reported to the Brooklyn police station two weeks ago, Burgess said. 'It was our own rhinos' horns that were stolen. The rhinos were dehorned because we were concerned that they would be poached for their horns,' she said, adding that the family was in possession of all the required permits for the horns. Full report on the News24 site