Conservation body sacks ‘poacher’
6975 Phila the black rhino who survived two separate attacks by rhino poachers has been living at the Johannesburg Zoo for three months. Parktown north, Johannesburg. 250111 - Picture: Jennifer Bruce 6975 Phila the black rhino who survived two separate attacks by rhino poachers has been living at the Johannesburg Zoo for three months. Parktown north, Johannesburg. 250111 - Picture: Jennifer Bruce
KwaZulu-Natal - Suspended Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife ranger Bhekinkosi Mtshali, arrested last month on charges of dealing in rhino horn, has been fired from the conservation body.
Ezemvelo spokesman Musa Mntambo said on Thursday that Mtshali was found guilty on three counts at a hearing last week at a Joburg prison where he was being held pending his trial.
“He was found guilty of being absent from work for more than seven days without notifying the organisation, bringing the organisation into disrepute and giving false evidence and misleading information in his testimony,” said Mntambo.
Mtshali, better known as Bheki Msweli, was arrested early last month after a sting set up by Ezemvelo which suspected the former ranger was involved in rhino poaching in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
It emerged after Mtshali’s arrest that he was wanted by police on three unrelated charges which included hijacking and armed robbery.
The former ranger’s application for bail this week was denied by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court and he was ordered to appear in court again on October 10. His alleged accomplice, Malusi Dubazane, was granted bail.
Rhino conservation stalwart Ian Player welcomed the news.
“First of all I am delighted he was arrested by the Ezemvelo staff and I am very glad that he has been fired. Not only did he betray his comrades who are working very hard to protect the rhinos, but he betrayed a God-given responsibility. Further, he has betrayed the great Shaka Zulu who first had the vision to protect wildlife in the area now known as the Imfolozi game reserve.”
Mtshali was arrested after he was moved from the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park to the Zululand wildlife investigation unit at the Opathe Reserve by Ezemvelo, which together with the Durban Organised Crime Unit set a trap to ensnare the former ranger and Dubazane after a 16-month investigation.
Officials said they also moved him during the investigation because he was “more of a threat” at Imfolozi and they wanted him “monitored by one person”.
The two men were alleged to be in cahoots with Chinese, Vietnamese and Malawian citizens arrested in Gauteng earlier this year allegedly in possession of rhino horns, elephant tusks and leopard skins. The rhino horns seized in the arrests were reportedly valued at more than R40 million.
Bandile Mkhize, the CEO of Ezemvelo, was out of the country and was not available for comment. -The Mercury