Poaching accused in court

October 12 2011 at 09:00am

A South African and a Mozambican accused of killing and dehorning a rhino cow on a private farm have appeared in a Limpopo court.

Patrick Ndlovu, 21, and Inase Mkhabela, 32, were not asked to plead to charges of illegally hunting a rhino and possession of an unlicensed firearm when they appeared in the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

They were arrested at the undisclosed private farm on Friday.

Spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Ronel Otto said the police and some rangers found four suspects, but were able to apprehend only two, while the others fled on foot.

They also recovered a hunting rifle, two projectiles, an axe and the rhino horn on the scene. – AENS