MIDDELBURG - A farmer was found guilty on Monday for selling five rhino horns without a permit. Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said in a statement Deon Cornelius (48) had been ordered by the Middelburg Regional Court to pay a fine of R10 000 or face three years’ imprisonment.

She stated that an additional compensation fine of R50 000 was levied against him, to be paid to the Mpumalanga Parks Board.  

“On January 4, 2018, members of the Hawks received information that a suspect from Gauteng was buying rhino horns from Cornelius at Buffelskloof in Middelburg. This was being done without a permit to purchase and transport the horns.” The following day the Hawks and the dog unit put the area under surveillance. “In the early hours of that morning, Cornelius arrived in a white Lexus. The team stopped him and searched his vehicle. They found the horn of a white rhino attached to the chassis with cable ties.” 

The horn was valued at R175 000.

The police also seized R699 129 in cash and arrested two Chinese nationals, Yansen Feng and Lui Li Hong.

A follow-up investigation on January 12, 2018, led to the arrest of Joseph Albertus and Susanna du Plessis in Bloemfontein.

Subsequently, Cornelius was charged for contravention of Section 23, Act 10 of 1998, and the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act, dealing in rhino horn without a permit.

Sekgotodi stated that the case against Feng, Li Hong, Albertus and Du Plessis had been finalised in 2018.

Feng was charged with illegal dealing in specially protected species, and sentenced to either pay a fine of R60 000 or face six months’ imprisonment. He was also sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years with the condition that he was not convicted again, and to pay R1 mill to Stop Rhino Poaching as victim compensation.

Li Hong was charged for illegal possession of ivory, illegal possession of drugs and illegal immigration. She was sentenced to a fine of R60 000 or two years’ imprisonment.

Albertus and Du Plessis were charged with illegal dealing in protected species and were sentenced a fine of R20 000 or two years’ imprisonment.

The head of the Mpumalanga Hawks, Maj Gen Zodwa Mokoena, applauded the investigating team, the prosecuting authorities and the judiciary by ensuring that justice prevailed.  “We believe that this will serve as a lesson to others who commit wildlife-related crimes; that their days are numbered and the time will come when they will have to face the mighty hand of the law.”

Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Written by: Tereasa Dias
Subeditor: Wahl Lessing
Submitted by: Capt Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi