SA gives Zim man 110-Year Jail Term

54-year-old former fugitive linked rhino poaching, jailbreaks, rape, kidnapping and robbery

54-year-old Zimbabwean national Thomas Chauke, alias Sazu Nkambuya, has been sentenced to 110 years imprisonment by the Makhanda High Court for a litany of crimes spanning rhino poaching, escaping custody, and illegal firearm possession.

The conviction follows a relentless probe by the South African Police Service Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, which exposed Chauke’s decade-long reign of terror across multiple provinces.

Chauke, a fugitive with a history of evading justice, pleaded guilty to six counts of rhino poaching and wildlife crimes, alongside three charges of escaping lawful custody.

Police spokesperson Lt. Col. Vincent Mukhathi revealed Chauke’s ties to a string of violent offenses, including armed robbery, rape, and kidnapping, across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and North West.

“He was a highly sought-after criminal whose actions endangered both human lives and endangered species,” Mukhathi stated.

Previously serving five life terms at Kgosi Mampuru Prison for heinous crimes, Chauke staged a daring escape on December 9, 2020, triggering a nationwide search.

The STES Unit rearrested him in Modimolle on March 25, 2025, after discovering an unlicensed firearm and ammunition in his possession. Further investigations tied him to a transnational rhino poaching syndicate, with authorities consolidating dockets from multiple provinces to ensure a bulletproof case.

“This sentence sends a clear message: we will relentlessly pursue those who threaten our biodiversity and communities,” Mukhathi emphasized.