The SAPS has arrested four people linked to the alleged poaching of a buffalo and the attempted murder of Kruger National Park rangers.
Police have arrested four people linked to the attempted murder of park rangers at the Xipala Block in the Kruger National Park, Vhembe District.
The arrest is related to a shooting and poaching incident on Saturday when, said Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, a park ranger called the Saselamani police and alerted them to a shootout between park rangers and suspected poachers.
At the scene, police found an 18-year-old lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the leg. They also discovered the carcass of a buffalo, valued at R80 000, which had allegedly been slaughtered using pangas.
Ledwaba said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect was part of a group of five people involved in poaching. The other four managed to flee during the gunfire.
The 18-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment and placed under police guard. He was charged with attempted murder and poaching, and was expected to appear at the Saselamani Magistrate’s Court soon.
Four people arrested in follow-up police operation
On Wednesday, a joint operational team comprising the Saselamani Detectives Unit, Vhembe District Tracing Team and Musina Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) conducted a tactical operation in Nkotswi and Bennde villages.
According to Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, police arrested three men aged between 21 and 30 in the early hours of the morning. The men were charged with attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, illegal hunting and poaching of game
A 36-year-old Zimbabwean woman was also arrested after she was found in possession of the suspected game meat believed to be from the slaughtered buffalo, with an estimated value of R2 000. The woman was additionally charged for contravening the Immigration Act after police discovered she was an undocumented immigrant.
Police also seized the unlicensed hunting rifle believed to have been used in the commission of crimes.
The four are expected to appear at the Makuya Periodical Court soon as police continue their investigation.