MEDIA STATEMENT FROM THE KWAZULU-NATAL MEDIA CENTRE

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

15 March 2013                                                                           

In the early hours of this morning, 15 March 2013 at about 03:00 Kingsley SAPS members were patrolling their area doing stop and search duties when they saw a suspicious looking White Toyota Tazz motor vehicle at Blood River crossing which is between Vryheid and Utrecht. The ever alert members stopped the said vehicle with two occupants and it was searched. Two rhino horns wrapped in a black plastic bag worth more than R500 000 rands were found in the vehicle. The two occupants were asked about the recovered horns and they told the police that they bought them from Vryheid area.

The two suspects were then arrested and charged with possession of rhino horns. They are due to appearing today in the in the Utrecht Magistrate Court.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni is proud of these dedicated and commitment members who made this breakthrough. "The joint security forces have worked tirelessly over the years to bring rhino poachers to book. The arrest of the suspected rhino poachers is commended", said Ngobeni.

For more information contact:

Captain Thulani Zwane

083 539 5726

KwaZulu Natal: Media Centre

South African Police Service

Corporate Communication

Tel:  031 325 6083/6084/6085

Fax: 031 325 6087

Email: kzn.mediacentre@saps.gov.za