Mozambican Poacher Sentenced to 30 Years for Rhino Killings

The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced Silas Mathebula (38), a Mozambican national, to 30 years in prison for poaching-related crimes committed in 2019.

According to Monica Nyuswa, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Mpumalanga, Mathebula was convicted on multiple charges, including trespassing, conspiracy to commit a crime, killing three rhinos, possession of illegal firearms, and possession of hunting weapons and ammunition.

Arrest and Trial
On November 23, 2019, a section ranger patrolling the Malelane area stopped a suspicious vehicle carrying five men. Inside, authorities found a rifle, ammunition, and six fresh rhino horns. The suspects—Zwelithini Mathebula, Lucky Mhlongo, Teddy Dlamini, Silas Mathebula, and Forster Lubisi—were arrested. Lubisi later died after being attacked by crocodiles while trying to escape.

Mathebula and another suspect, Lucky Hlungwane, fled after being granted bail. However, Mathebula was rearrested while attempting another poaching crime in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, leading to his transfer back to Skukuza for trial.

Conviction and Sentencing
During the trial, State prosecutor Lot Mgiba presented strong evidence, including DNA analysis that matched the rhino horns found in the suspects’ vehicle to three poached rhino carcasses. Ballistic tests also confirmed that bullets recovered from the carcasses came from the firearm found in the suspects’ possession.

The court sentenced Mathebula to 30 years in prison and declared him unfit to own a firearm under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000.

A Win Against Poaching
Nyuswa emphasized that poaching continues to threaten biodiversity and endangered species, causing long-term environmental damage. She added that the NPA welcomes the sentence as a step towards protecting South Africa’s wildlife for future generations.