Alleged Rhino poachers denied bail in Grahamstown court

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Three suspected rhino poachers made another court appearance in Grahamstown on Wednesday after they were arrested for being in possession of a "freshly harvested" rhino horn.

Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Sibongile Soci, said the men were arrested at a chalet at the Makana Resort in Grahamstown on Friday night as "direct result of Operation Full Moon, which mainly focused on curbing rhino poaching incidents in the province."Soci said the suspects are Forget Ndlovu (40) residing in Pacaltsdorp, George, Jabulani Ndlovu, 38 of Cleonie Crescent in Port Elizabeth and Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, (37) residing at NU 9, Motherwell, Port Elizabeth."Forget and Jabulani are not related and are Zimbabwean citizens. Ndlovu is a South African Citizen," Soci said.She also said police seized a 72cm rhino horn, "which had been freshly harvested" valued at an estimated R1.2 million during the bust.Soci said other items seized included a darting rifle, saws and knives, drugs used to dart animals, two rental vehicles as well as camping gear and rations."The suspects have been identified as the grouping and are linked to the recent poaching of a rhino at Buckland's Private Game Reserve. The rhino was last seen alive on 17 June 2016 at about 09:30. It is suspected that the rhino was darted.

The suspects could possibly be linked to 10 rhino poaching incidents in the Eastern Cape as well as Mpumalanga and KwaZuluNatal," she said.Acting Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zamuthango Mki thanked all the members and officials deployed at the operation."Operation Full Moon is aimed at curbing Rhino Poaching activities in a structured and co-ordinated manner.

This is a major breakthrough for the police in the Province. The arrests must send a message that SAPS members in the rural areas are as vigilant", concluded Major General Mki. Soci said the three were denied bail and will remain in custody.Their next court appearance will be on the 22nd of Jult 2016.