90 YEARS BEHIND BARS

Zeerust – Four Rhino killers will invariably serve 90 years behind bars. Lieutenant general Baile Motswenyane welcomed the sentencing of the four accused by the Zeerust Regional Court on Thursday, 17 May.

The sentencing of the four follows an incident in which they entered the Madikwe Game Reserve on Wednesday, 29 March and killed a rhino.

Acting on a tip-off, the police pursued the accused who then abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot. The accused’s vehicle was searched and a rifle, knives as well as two rhino horns were found.

According to lieutenant colonel Pelonomi Makau, police spokesperson, the accused ran out of luck when a thorough and responsive investigation led to their arrest. The Provincial Stock Theft Unit together with the National Intervention Unit in Winterveldt near Soshanguve nabbed the suspects on Tuesday, 4 April.

The accused were sentenced as follows: Johannes Mthopa: 10 years’ imprisonment, Monda Ndlovu: 20 years’ imprisonment, Patrick Khoza: 30 years’ imprisonment, and Samuel Masive: 30 years’ imprisonment.