I was in the process of writing a post about the potential link between the current increase in rhino poaching in the Eastern Cape, and the escape of five convicted rhino poachers when I saw the news of one of the poachers being re-arrested.
Abraham Moyane was one of five convicted rhino poachers who escaped from Grahamstown Correctional Facility in October last year. The Eastern Cape had achieved a remarkable three years without a single rhino poaching incident; since their escape multiple incidents have taken place across the province and one cat help but link the two events.
Moyane himself was re-captured by anti-poachers on a game reserve close to Makhanda on Monday 10th April at around 2am.
According to the police report: “three suspicious people were seen jumping over a fence of a private game reserve near Makhanda. Reaction was immediate and the anti-poaching unit was activated which resulted in the arrest of one of the three suspects. The other two managed to flee. The suspect was found in possession of hunting implements, and was detained for contravening the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 Sec 57 (attempted hunting of a threatened or protected species without a permit).” "We can confirm the arrest and that he was involved in attempted poaching at one of the private game reserves”.
Photosource: Talkofthetown
The 34 year old appeared in court on the 12th April, after which he was remanded in custody following a formal bail application. The case has been postponed in 3rd May 2023.
Moyane was the third of the escaped poachers to be arrested since their escape; Trymore Chauke and Simba Masinge were both re-captured separately in October 2022.
Two of the escapees: Francis Chitiyo and Nhamo Muyambo remain at-large. Could they be the two suspects who fled the scene during Mayane's re-arrest?
Story origins source: talkofthetown
