THE Christmas Day arrest of two uMkhuze field rangers left executives of KZN’s conservation bodies infuriated but united in their support of the rangers’ actions in the line of duty.
At about 2.30pm on 25 December, field rangers on patrol in uMkhuze Game Reserve encountered three suspected poachers near the Ephaki Guard Camp.
The poachers were armed, carrying an axe and heavy calibre rifle.
After encountering the rangers, the poachers fled, with the rangers in hot pursuit.
uMkhuze Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) was mobilised and closed all escape routes.
While walking towards the park, two APU members came into contact with the suspects and a shoot-out ensued, killing one suspect.
SAPS was notified immediately and arrived on scene a short while later.
According to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Spokesperson, Musa Mntambo, one of the suspects was armed with a knife which he used to threaten the rangers.
Despite David Mabunda, acting CEO of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, congratulating the field rangers on their timely response in the line of duty, two were arrested by SAPS, charged with murder and their R1 rifles confiscated.
‘Poachers are getting away with murder while law enforcement agencies are at war with each other,’ said a furious Mabunda.
‘We will allow the law to take its course and we will spare no resources on providing legal support to our rangers, [as well as] emotional support by referring them to counselling once they are released’.
Both Mabunda and Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority, plan to take up the matter with SAPS Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni.
‘Field rangers are at the hard edge of anti-rhino poaching work and are faced with an increasingly difficult task; more so when seemingly arbitrary arrests of those who have had to actively engage with poachers are made,’ said Zaloumis.
According to Colonel Jay Naicker from the SAPS KZN media centre, the suspect had surrendered before he was shot.
An attorney briefed by both KZN Wildlife and iSimangaliso succeeded in obtaining an urgent bail application for the arrested staff on 26 December.
The rangers appeared at the Ubombo Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning and were released on bail of R1 000 each.
The case was postponed until late February.
