South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed and applauded the sentencing of Elias Sithole.
He was sentenced by the Skukuza Regional Court for poaching-related activities in the Kruger National Park.
According to SANParks, Sithole was found guilty on six counts on the 10th of April 2025.
Rhino poaching continues to be a problem in South Africa. (Picture: Sourced)
During a special operation on the 23rd of January 2020, a suspicious vehicle was noticed travelling on a gravel road between Skukuza and Pretoriuskop.
Kruger and Phambeni Gates’ Dog Handlers flagged the vehicle to stop, but the driver did not comply.
After a short pursuit, the vehicle came to a stop. Thereafter, two males exited the vehicle and fled into the bush whilst the driver remained inside the car.
Upon inspection, a hunting rifle was found lying on the back seat of the vehicle. The driver claimed innocence and indicated that the two men who fled had tried to hijack him.
ALSO READ: Kruger National Park loses 35 rhinos to poaching in first few weeks of 2025
Backup response teams, including Rangers, the Environmental Investigation Unit, Protection Services, SAPS Skukuza, and the Local Criminal Record Centre quickly arrived at the scene to support the Dog Handlers.
They recovered a hunting rifle, ammunition and two knives from the vehicle.
On the 10th of April 2025, Sithole was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with several sentences running concurrently.
As reported by SANParks, he was found guilty on the following charges:
– Count 1 – Possession of unlicensed firearm
– Count 2 – Conspiracy to commit a crime
– Count 3 – Possession of prohibited firearm – serial number obliterated
– Count 4 – Possession of firearm with intent to commit a crime
– Count 5 – Possession of unlicensed ammunition
– Count 6 – Possession of dangerous weapons (knives)
The sentences for counts 1 and 4 are set to run concurrently with count 3. As such, Sithole will serve an effective 11 years in prison.
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