File
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, says 231 rhinos were killed in the first six months of this year.
And, according to Minister Barbara Creecy, these figures represent an 11% decrease compared to the same period last year.
She told a briefing on Tuesday that between 1 January and 30 June this year, poaching trends also continued to show a move away from the Kruger National Park to provincial and private reserves.
Creecy said 42 rhinos were poached in the Kruger National Park and 143 in KwaZulu-Natal during this period, while 46 rhinos killed were on privately owned nature reserves and 143 rhinos in provincially owned reserves.
The Minister said during the period under review, a collaboration between the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority led to the conviction of 31 offenders, with the majority of sentences being custodial.
"In Skukuza, one suspect found guilty of killing three rhinos and possession of unlawful arms and ammunition was sentenced to an effective 32 years imprisonment."
Creecy also highlighted the 34-year prison sentence imposed on three men caught in the Kruger National Park, while noting the 24-year sentence handed down by a Limpopo court to an individual charged with poaching two rhinos.
"In the Eastern Cape, six accused were convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit rhino poaching (notably no rhinos were killed) and the possession of an un-licensed firearm and ammunition and effectively sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 16 to 20 years," the Minister said.
