Simon Nare
Rhino horn syndicates make promises of a good life and loads of cash to lure unemployed youths from the townships to join their criminal enterprises, according to a convicted poacher who on Thursday was handed a hefty 55-year sentence at the Skukuza Regional Court after being found guilty of 14 counts related to rhino poaching.
Domini Mnisi, 36, in an exclusive interview with Inside Travel minutes after being convicted said he was lured by syndicates who had promised him R20 000 for killing and dehorning each rhino.
For a young man who was unemployed and hardly had any cash, this sounded like a dream and Mnisi was easily sold. But this soon turned into a nightmare when he, according to court records, was caught red handed with a horn before he could deliver it to the syndicates to cash his loot.
Mnisi and three other co-accused were caught by rangers after they were traced to crime scene after shooting and dehorning a rhino. After they were arrested for the first offence, Mnisi said the syndicates convinced him and his co-accused to try their luck again.
Once again luck was not on their side as they were once again nabbed before delivering the horn. According to court testimony they had killed two rhinos.
Mnisi said he regretted every minute of it now that he is going to spend most of his life in jail.
“The youngsters out there in the township must not pay attention to those syndicates. They come to us with big promises of money and as youngsters we are taken by it (promises).
“They would find us hanging in street corners by the shops. I was promised R20 000. I can’t tell you their names because I don’t know their names but I never got any of the money,” Mnisi said.
Magistrate Jan Ngobeni in handing his sentence said Mnisi, Lwazi Malambe and Ayanda Ngombane, both 31, had committed a serious crime and showed no remorse for what they did.
Mnisi was facing 14 counts while the other two were facing lesser charges after they were arrested in January 2017 at Stolsnek where they were found in possession of a rifle, ammunition and four fresh rhino horns. The horns were linked later to two freshly killed rhinos nearby.
And while on bail the accused were in 2019 tracked by field rangers at Malelane Section after gunshots were heard and following up on investigations they were once again found with rhino horns of two rhinos which had been killed nearby.
The heavy sentence was welcomed by the South African National Parks which has increased efforts and measures to curb poaching in the world-renowned park. The park has increased roadblocks which involve the K9 unit, police as well as soldiers and rangers.
Parks spokesman Ike Phaahla said the institution was satisfied with the sentence which he said would send a loud message to other poachers out there.
“I think it was appropriate that he (magistrate) took into consideration their personal circumstances but also considered the public good and the seriousness of the crime. So we are very satisfied with the evidence that was given to the court for it to consider the heavy sentence,” said Phaahla.
Inside Travel
