The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the sentencing of 62-year-old Philip Mfana Masuku, who was handed a 14-year prison term for rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park. The Skukuza Regional Court delivered the verdict on Thursday, 05 June 2025.
Details of the Crime
The court heard that on 17 February 2019, at approximately 02:40, the Technical Manager at Kruger National Park detected suspicious movements in the Pretoriuskop section of the park. The Section Ranger was alerted and immediately deployed Field Rangers to investigate.
During their search, the rangers tracked three fresh sets of footprints and later spotted three suspects sitting along the Voortrekker Road. As the rangers approached, two suspects fled, but Masuku was apprehended. He was found in possession of four rhino horns and two knives.
Legal Proceedings
The incident was reported to the Skukuza Police Station, and Masuku was formally charged. He first appeared at the Bushbuckridge District Court, where he was granted bail. His case was subsequently transferred to the Skukuza Regional Court, where he initially attended proceedings while out on bail.
However, Masuku later absconded, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. A trace operation was conducted, resulting in his rearrest. During his second detention, he attempted to apply for bail again but was denied after police investigations revealed that he had submitted a fraudulent medical certificate in support of his application.
Sentencing
On 05 June 2025, the Skukuza Regional Court found Masuku guilty on multiple charges, including:
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Trespassing in a National Park
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Illegal hunting of two white rhinoceroses
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Conspiracy to commit a crime
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Possession of dangerous weapons
In addition to his 14-year direct imprisonment, the court declared Masuku unfit to possess a firearm.
Major General Mkhwanazi praised the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the judiciary in securing the conviction, emphasizing the SAPS’s commitment to combating wildlife crime.