3 More Arrests After East Rand Man Was Caught With Rhino Horn Valued At R170,000
Photographer: Armand Hough
After being discovered in possession of a rhino horn estimated to be worth R170,000, a man was detained in the East Rand.
A suspicious Toyota Etios was stopped by the Hawks and the Benoni K9 Unit as they were conducting a routine patrol along the R21 highway close to Atlas Road.
Officers searched the car and found a 1.6-kilogram rhino horn under the driver’s seat, hidden in a yellow plastic bag.
The driver, Hlulani Baloyi, 47, was detained right away and later showed up in front of the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
He is accused of violating the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) and having unlawful rhino horns. His case has been continued until August 11 in order to submit a formal bail request.
In a related development, the theft of 51 rhino horns from the North West Parks Board in Mahikeng resulted in the arrest of three persons in North West.
Five vehicles believed to have been used in the burglary were seized for additional investigation after the suspects were charged with business burglary.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded immediate action to retrieve the stolen rhino horns in reaction to the rhino horn theft and has vowed to keep putting pressure on the government to ensure openness and accountability in wildlife conservation initiatives.
“We acknowledge the role our collective efforts play in safeguarding our wildlife and will continue to put pressure on the authorities to maintain transparency and accountability in these matters,” said DA MP on forestry, fisheries, and environment, Dave Bryant.
