Two men, aged 37 and 38, were arrested on Monday, December 16, in a coordinated operation targeting suspected poachers near the Kruger National Park.
The arrests, carried out by the SA Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Response Team (TRT), followed intelligence from the police’s Crime Intelligence Structure said the Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli.
"Through intelligence, members received information about people involved in poaching. An intelligence driven operation was then immediately conducted and it led them to two houses at Kabokweni and Pienaar respectively along the borderline of the Kruger National Park," said Mdhluli.
"The first suspect, at Kabokweni, was found with four rifles with live ammunition and other related items. The second suspect was cornered at Pienaar and was also found with four rifles with ammunition and other related items."
Both men have been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
Police are conducting ballistic tests on the confiscated weapons to determine whether they have been used in other crimes, and additional charges may follow as investigations continue.
The suspects are set to appear in Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, December 17.
In a separate operation, 10 men were arrested at a mine in Barberton on Sunday, December 15, as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, an initiative targeting illegal mining activities.
The group, which includes seven foreign nationals and three South Africans are aged between 23 and 59, are facing charges of illegal mining and trespassing.
The acting provincial commissioner of Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, praised the police teams involved in both operations.
"We thank members for the swift reaction rendered and made the arrest of the alleged perpetrators. We are glad that we managed to recover some rifles with a lot of ammunition," said Mkhwanazi.
Investigations into both cases are ongoing.
IOL News