6 Zimbabweans jailed 16-20 years in SA for rhino p...

6 Zimbabweans jailed 16-20 years in SA for rhino poaching

More Than 1,000 Rhinos Poached in South Africa in 2017

Six members of the Chitiyo Rhino Poaching Gang from Zimbabweans were given sentences ranging from 16 to 20 years for rhino poaching by SA judge Gerald Bloem in the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda.

The six are Francis Chitiyo,35, Trymore Chauke,30, Meshack Chauke,27, Simba Masinge,32, Nhamo Muyambo,32, and Abraham Moyane, 36.

Chitiyo was sentenced to an effective 20-year prison term, Muyambo to 19 years, Moyane to 18 years, Trymore Chauke and Masinge to 17 years each, and Meshack Chauke to 16 years.

In passing sentence Judge Bloem emphasised the prevalence of rhino poaching, how they were killed, that the commission of the offences, in this case, was motivated by greed and the lack of remorse shown by the accused.

He found that rehabilitation by the offenders appeared remote and that prospective poachers should be deterred from poaching.

Five of the men, Meshack Chauke excluded, escaped from the Waainek Prison in Makhanda in October 2022 while on remand.

Following their escape, 13 rhinos were poached in the first three months of this year.

And while the gang was in custody, no rhino poaching incidents were reported in the Eastern Cape, the court heard.