Rhino Horn Smuggling Scandal - John Hume amongst 6 arrested for rhino horn trafficking worth millions

Photo source: NPA and News 24

John Hume, the founder of Platinum Rhino Reserve has been arrested along with 5 others, following a 7 year investigation by Hawks.

Hume was once the owner of the world’s largest privately owned population of white rhino, with 2000 rhinos on his farm, around 15% of the global population at the time. Hume was the subject of controversy, for attempting to commercially farm rhino like cattle in an attempt to be able to sell their horns on the international market.

In 2017 Hume successfully fought the South African government at constitutional court, resulting in the reversal of the ban on domestic sales of rhino horn - whilst the international trade of rhino horns remained banned under CITES. Prosecutors have alleged that the syndicate have used a web of fraudulent permits, exploiting the domestic trade regulations (which Hume had previously fought for) to cover up the sale of rhino horns and export them onto the international black market to Southeast Asia.  Hume, along with the rest of the syndicate have been arrested on suspicion of the illegal international trade of 964 rhino horns, thought to be worth over ZAR 240 million ($14 million dollars). Collectively, the 6 are facing up to 55 charges including racketeering, fraud, theft, money laundering contravention of the national environment management act, and contravention the riotous assemblies act.

Amongst those arrested are Clive Melville (a relative of Hume’s) who was previously arrested in 2019 while illegally transporting 167 of Hume’s rhino horns without proper documentation on Hume’s behalf - one of the largest rhino horn seizures in rhino horn history. Hume’s lawyer Isak Hermanus Du Toit was also arrested, along with, Elizabeth Catarena Van Nienerk - The director of a Non-Profit Organisation, Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel -  Insurance Broker and farmer, and Johannes Abraham Hennop a  Game Reserve Manager. All six appeared in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court after turning themselves in, and have been granted bail. The case has now been postponed until December 2025.

Source: NPA and News 24