Brothers in court over rhino horn
The case against three suspected rhino poachers has been postponed in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate's Court.
The suspects, two brothers - who had previously been acquitted on similar charges - and a Zimbabwean, will remain in custody until their next appearance on Monday.
Deon (48) and Nick van Deventer (51) and Onwand Muchagowa (34) were found in possession of a rhino horn along the Vivo and Makhado road.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo says members of the Limpopo Endangered Species Unit followed up information on suspects attempting to sell rhino horn in the Makhado area.
"The members subsequently spotted the vehicle. The suspects in the vehicle realized that they are being followed up and sped off after throwing a wrapped object from their vehicle. One police vehicle stopped and retrieved the object while the other vehicle followed the suspects," says Mojapelo.
Mojapelo says the object thrown out the window was a rhino horn.
"It is suspected that the horn might be connected to an incident of poaching in the Witpoort area that occurred earlier in the week where a rhino and her calf were shot and dehorned. Forensic tests to confirm this will be conducted," says Mojapelo.
