Three in court for killing rhino

2010-10-13 21:44

Johannesburg - Three men arrested for allegedly killing and de-horning a rhino in the Ophathe Game Reserve near Vryheid have been granted R1 000 bail each in the Babanango Magistrate's Court, the SABC reported on Wednesday.
The men, all from Ulundi, were part of a gang of five arrested more than a week ago when the Hawks swooped on alleged rhino poachers in KwaZulu-Natal.

Jeremiah Zungu, Thokozani Mazibuko and Musawenkosi Mthimkhulu confessed to having killed a rhino at Ophathe Game Reserve and selling its horn in Johannesburg.

The rhino was poached more than a month ago.

They were found in possession of several firearms, including a .303 rifle with a telescopic lens, two shotguns and two .22 rifles.

KwaZulu-Natal had lost 18 rhino to poachers this year, more than 200 had been killed countrywide.

- SAPA