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A 45-year-old man has been jailed for 28 years after being found guilty of rhino poaching in a KwaZulu Natal.
The National Prosecuting Authority said it welcomed the sentence imposed on Michael Masuku in the Empangeni Regional Court on Monday.
He was convicted of conspiracy to hunt rhino, two counts of hunting and killing a protected species, and one count of hunting without a permit.
NPA regional spokesperson, Natasha Kara Ramkisson, said the incident took place in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game reserve, in October 2018.
She said Masuku had conspired with another man to go into the game reserve where two rhinos were killed.
Ramkisson said they removed two horns from one animal and one from the other before fleeing the reserve. She said Masuku was arrested shortly afterward.
She said during the trial a state witness gave evidence tying him to the crimes, particularly the shooting of the rhinos.
The NPA said rhinos are on the endangered species list and there's a duty and mandate to protect and preserve them.
