Limpopo trio jailed for poaching

Three men have been jailed for five years each for rhino poaching in Polokwane, Limpopo police said on Thursday.

   

Mozambican nationals Augustus Nkuna, Foster Nyoni, and Manyanga Shiringa were sentenced on Wednesday by the Makhado Regional Court, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

   

"The trio were also handed a 12-month suspended sentence."

   

They were arrested in May last year after police caught them poaching rhinos at the Nwandeni Resort.

   

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, five alleged rhino poachers were arrested in Gravelotte after police received a tip-off.

   

"The five were planning to invade a private game farm and poach rhinos," said Mulaudzi.

   

Police confiscated a hunting rifle, two butcher knives and two vehicles.

   

The men were expected to appear in the Phalaborwa Magistrate's Court on Friday. Mulaudzi said the arrest of the five brought the number of people arrested for rhino poaching to eight this week. 

 

On  Sunday, three men were arrested while they were en route to allegedly poach rhinos in Hoedspruit.

   

-Sapa