Two former Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers were sentenced on Friday to an effective 20 years in prison for their involvement in rhino poaching, according to South African National Parks (SANParks). Lucky Mkanzi and Joe Sihlangu, former field rangers attached to the Crocodile Bridge section of the KNP, were arrested in January 2019. SANParks spokesperson JP Louw said the organisation had received information that both of them were involved in the transportation of poaching suspects in the Godleni area in that section, where two carcasses of white rhino were discovered. Vehicle tracking device analysis placed them near to the crime scene. “The two were taken into custody and confessed to taking part in the crime. An amount of R41 000 was recovered from Joe Sihlangu’s room, and it was determined that the money was payment for his participation in the commission of the crime,” Louw added. Mkanzi and Sihlangu were tried and found guilty in the Skukuza Regional Court, and on Friday they were sentenced to:

• Four years for conspiracy to commit a crime;
• 20 years for hunting two rhinos in a national park; and
• Another 20 years for hunting and killing two rhinos in a national park.

Some of the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, leading to an effective 20 years in prison, SANParks said.

Louw said SANParks management welcomed the sentences and congratulated the Rangers’ Corp, Environmental Investigative Unit (ECI), South African Police Service (SAPS), and National Prosecuting Agency (NPA).

“The organisation hopes these sentences will send a strong message to the Rangers’ Corps that criminality will not be tolerated and that those involved will face the full might of the law and suffer the consequences of their actions.

“These sentences are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Rangers’ Corp and the various investigative units involved. We hope this is a strong deterrent to anyone considering engaging in such criminal activities,” Louw added.

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