Pretoria: Mpumalanga Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC Norman Mokoena has commended the jail term handed down by the Nelspruit Magistrates Court to two men for rhino poaching, saying it should be a lesson to others that they cannot hide from the might of the law. Geasson Corsa, 35, and Ali Nkuna, 25, were sentenced to 29 years in jail for trespassing, being in possession of hunting rifles and ammunition, and poaching a rhino and its calf.

‘”We congratulate our multi-facet law enforcement agencies for continuing to heed our call to do everything in their power to protect our endangered rhino species from such greedy people, I hope that this will serve as a deterrent to others with the same motive,” said Mokoena. Passing a sentence on Friday, Magistrate Catherine Hugo said the sentence should be a deterrent to other would-be rhino poachers and that those who continue to poach rhinos illegally will be prosecuted and if found guilty, would be convicted by courts of law.

The latest conviction follows an 18 year and 10 years sentenced given to two rhino poachers by the magistrates’ court in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal on 16 August.Since the beginning of this year, a total of 47 and 42 rhino poachers have been arrested in Mpumalanga and the Kruger National Park respectively.

The department urges South Africans to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to the arrest of and prevention of illegal poaching to 0800 205 005.