Park’s official accused of illegal hunting

A SANParks (South Africa National Parks) employee tasked with the safeguarding of wild animals has allegedly been selling these animals to game hunters.

This employee, who has allegedly been selling animals to game hunters by means of fake permits, appeared before the Louis Trichardt District Court on Monday, 17 February, where he was official charged.

Michael Sematla was arrested on 27 January, following several months of investigation by the SANParks Environmental Crime Investigative Unit. The help of the unit was called in, said SANParks spokesperson Mr Ike Phaahla, when a giraffe carcass was found with three bullet wounds in Den Staat, which is an open-system park.

Sematla worked as a general worker for the Mapungubwe National Park, which is also a world heritage site and borders on Den Staat. Both parks border on Zimbabwe and boast a great variety of small and big game.

Sematla allegedly used SANParks stationery to mislead professional hunters and game meat operators to hunt on Den Staat.  As many as 16 groups a day would hunt illegally on Den Staat and  Sematla also allegedly issued permits for the hunting of leopards and other protected animals.

During Sematla’s court appearance, 11 hunters who had been issued the alleged fake permits also attended court. They will not face further prosecution on account of their paying admission-of-guilt fines. Fines to the value of R37 000 were issued. The newspaper has learned that some of these hunters might later be asked to become State witnesses and testify against Sematla, who is facing several charges of illegal hunting.

Sematla is currently out on bail, and will have to appear in court again on 7 March.

News - Date: 27 February 2014

Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

Email: [email protected]