By OBAKENG MAJE
22 September 2026 – Two men convicted of multiple poaching-related offences in the Kruger National Park have each been sentenced to 11 years imprisonment by the Skukuza Regional Court. Ephraim Bheki Siwela (43) and Kobus Simon Sambo (40) were convicted on seven counts, including trespassing in a national park, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm for the commission of an offence, conspiracy to commit an offence, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of a dangerous weapon.
The case dates back to 30 May 2021, when suspicious movement was detected in the Pretoriuskop Section of the Kruger National Park. Aerial surveillance was deployed and investigators tracked two sets of footprints.
Field rangers later discovered a firearm and hunting knives before finding Siwela and Sambo hiding in nearby vegetation. Investigations subsequently established that the footwear worn by the accused matched the footprints being tracked.
During the trial, both accused pleaded not guilty.
The state prosecutor, Lot Mgiba, led evidence from the park’s Technology Operations Manager and presented expert evidence linking the footprints to the accused’s footwear. Ballistic analysis also linked the recovered firearm to the accused.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyuswa said the sentence demonstrates the importance of coordinated efforts in combating wildlife crime. Nyuswa said this successful prosecution highlights the effectiveness of coordinated anti-poaching operations and demonstrates the value of collaboration between conservation authorities, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors in combating wildlife crime.
“The sentence sends a strong message that people involved in poaching and related criminal activities will face serious consequences. The NPA remains committed to protecting South Africa’s wildlife heritage and ensuring that perpetrators of environmental and wildlife crimes are held accountable through the criminal justice system.
“The court imposed various sentences on the accused, with several of the sentences ordered to run concurrently with the eight years sentence for possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number,” she said.
Nyuswa further said the three-year sentence for trespassing was ordered to run consecutively, resulting in an effective 11 years imprisonment sentence for each accused. She added that the court also declared both men unfit to possess firearms.
The Guardian 