Investigators have recovered 20 rhino carcasses from a poaching syndicate suspect's property in South Africa. Two people were also arrested during the raid, bringing the number of the so-called Groenewald gang to 13.
The suspects have been named as Gys du Preez, a professional hunter, and Joseph Maluleka, a farm worker.
Dawie Groenewald was arrested in September and is currently out on R1 million bail. At the time of Groenewald’s arrest last month, there were 32 live rhinos on his property, although Groenewald claimed that he had as many as 80 rhinos on his farm.
Groenewald is said to have purchased the rhinos at an auction in order to sell their horns, then simply slaughtered them, to avoid reducing his profit margin with the upkeep expenses of live rhinos. Groenewald, along with ten other people, was granted bail by the Musina court’s magistrate Errol Luiters. The release date coincided with World Rhino Day, an event to raise awareness about South Africa’s rhino poaching scourge.
Rhino poaching has increased dramatically since 2008 with 210 slaughtered so far this year alone compared to only 122 in 2009, according to the Endangered Wildlife Trust. South Africa is home to about 90 per cent of the white rhinos in Africa.
The suspected involvement of veterinarians, safari operators and professional hunters in the poaching syndicate had sent shockwaves around the country.
Ken Maggs, member of the SANParks team investigating the crime, had gone on to say, "I hate to say it, but these are people who are involved in nature conservation. It's going to turn the game industry upside down and it's going to shock many people. We have already issued warrants for the arrests. It's going to happen soon."
Groenewald, a former police official, was suspended from the South African Professional Hunters Association four years ago. Zimbabwe too had put an end to his activities. He was arrested in the US in April this year in connection with a leopard trophy which was illegally hunted in South Africa and exported to the US. He pleaded guilty and was fined US$30 000.
Groenewald is linked to a closed corporation which owns a Robinson R44 helicopter with the registration ZS-HBH. His wife, Sariette, is listed as a director of Valinor Trading 142 - the owner of the helicopter. Helicopters are known to be used during rhino poaching operations.
Last month, WWF South Africa launched a campaign aimed at raising funds and support for those who place their lives on the line in the fight against rhino poaching.
