In terms of a plea bargain agreement in the Vryheid Regional Court yesterday, Ewart Potgieter, 34, once a farm manager in the Louwsberg and Newcastle areas, will spend six years behind bars.
Two would-be rhino poachers, who were bust in a police sting as they were cutting the fence of a private game reserve, have been sent to prison.
In terms of plea bargain agreements in the Vryheid Regional Court yesterday, Ewart Potgieter, 34, and Riaan Vermaak, 32, both once farm managers in the Louwsberg and Newcastle areas, will spend six years and four years behind bars respectively.
Their co-accused, brothers Nkosikhona and Mduduzi Sithole, both rangers employed at the Mkuze Falls Game Reserve, will appear in court this morning. Charges have been withdrawn against a fifth man.
They were arrested earlier this year after a two-month undercover operation by the Durban Organised Crime Unit and the National Intervention Unit, led by investigating officer Warrant Officer JP van Zyl-Roux.
The trial was supposed to begin this week, but instead the State, through prosecutor advocate Yuri Gangai, entered into plea-bargain agreements which were ratified by the court.
Potgieter, who admitted to a previous conviction for illegal hunting of two warthogs, said he had met a Piet Harvey who had said there was a lot of money to be made out of illegal rhino hunting.
In terms of a plea bargain agreement in the Vryheid Regional Court yesterday, Riaan Vermaak, 32, once a farm manager in the Louwsberg and Newcastle areas, will spend four years behind bars.
Harvey had given him the number of “Johan” – who later turned out to be a police agent. He made contact and started discussions around rhino hunting.
He then met a game ranger, Dumisani (Nkosikhona) Sithole, who offered to help.
Several meetings were held with “Johan”, planning the hunt, and Vermaak was enlisted to help.
It was agreed that the hunt would take place at Mkuze Falls, and that black and white rhino would be the targets.
Dumisani Sithole would show them where to access the farm and supply them with a farm radio, which he would get from his brother to keep track of ranger movements.
If the hunt was successful, Sithole would delay reporting it. “Johan” was to do the actual hunting, accompanied by Vermaak, who would be his guard.
On March 4, they went to the reserve. As the fence was being cut open, the trap was sprung and “Johan” introduced himself as a police agent.
Potgieter also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of two rifles and a pistol – which he claimed were family heirlooms – and possession of ammunition.
Vermaak said he had become involved because of financial problems, and claimed he had only got involved in the “final stages” of the planning.
On the day before the planned hunt, he had accompanied Dumisani Sithole on a motorcycle, and the ranger had shown him where the rhino could be found.
He pleaded guilty to possession of a .223 Vector shotgun and 30 live rounds.
Potgieter received 18 years and Vermaak 10 years, but portions of the sentences were suspended, and it was ordered that they run concurrently, making the effective jail time six and four years.
