By Staff Reporter
The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced 28-year-old Bethuel Baloyi to 16 years’ direct imprisonment for a series of poaching-related offences committed in the Kruger National Park in 2020.
He was convicted of trespassing, killing two rhinos, possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm to commit an offence, possession of live ammunition, conspiracy to commit an offence, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
On 28 March 2020, rangers patrolling the Pretoriuskop Section encountered three suspects carrying rifles and other weapons.
The suspects were identified as Million Masilane, Bethuel Baloyi, and Andries Baloyi, a Mozambican national. During the attempted arrest, Andries pointed a firearm at the rangers, who returned fire, resulting in his death.
The remaining suspects were apprehended and found with a rifle that had its serial number removed, along with live ammunition. A further search of the surrounding area led to the discovery of two rhino carcasses, confirming illegal hunting activity.
Despite pleading not guilty during the trial, the State presented compelling evidence, including ranger testimony and expert reports. Bloodstains found on Baloyi’s clothing were confirmed to match those of a rhino, further linking him to the crime. Baloyi had initially been granted bail but later absconded before judgment. The State then applied for a separation of trials.
In 2023, his co-accused, Masilane, was convicted and sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment for the same offences.
Baloyi was later re-arrested in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal for a similar poaching-related matter, which is still pending.
The court imposed several sentences for the various charges, some of which will run concurrently, resulting in an effective sentence of 16 years. Baloyi was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
