Six rhino poachers denied bail

2011-08-30 22:40

Johannesburg - Six people accused of attempting to poach rhino were denied bail in the Modimolle and Polokwane magistrate's courts on Tuesday, Limpopo police said.

Phillip Mpete, 41, a traffic official, and Malivan Mutanga, 37, faced charges including illegal hunting and illegal possession of firearms, said spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

They were arrested on Sunday for allegedly trying to poach rhino on the farm Welgevoden outside Modimolle. Their case was postponed to next Monday.

Another four men faced similar charges in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court.

Simon PaePae, 32, Bester Maluleke, 26, Joshua Samuel Ngwenya, 27 and Maxwell Sithole, 30, had their case postponed to next Thursday.

They were arrested on Sunday on the farm Rietvley near Polokwane.

When police confronted them a shootout ensued, killing one of the poachers and injuring two others.

The two injured men remained in hospital and would appear in court soon, Mulaudzi said.


- SAPA