Alleged poacher trampled to death by buffalo

Five arrested suspects charged with defeating the ends of justice

A man who was allegedly part of poachers hunting wild animals at Kruger National Park was trampled to death by a buffalo.

An undertaker who was asked by the family to pick up his body became suspicious of his many injuries and told the police. The officers made further investigations and realised that he was allegedly part of poachers who were illegally hunting buffaloes at Kruger.

The group shot the buffalo and one of the accomplices removed the injured victim (deceased) from the scene and placed him next to the fence of the park.Colonel Malesela Ledwaba

Spokesperson for Limpopo police, Col Malesela Ledwaba said information at their disposal was that the man part of a group of people illegally hunting buffaloes at the Kruger National Park when he was attacked by a buffalo.

"The group shot the buffalo and one of the accomplices removed the injured victim [deceased] from the scene and placed him next to the fence of the park.

"One of them returned home to inform relatives to come and pick him up. The relative came and picked up the victim. When they arrived at home, they informed the undertaker about the deceased, and he was collected from home.

"The undertaker, after discovering that the deceased had multiple injuries, notified the police."

Police investigations led to the arrest of five suspects aged between 28 and 48 in Bende Mutale and Nkotswi villages.

They were charged with defeating the ends of justice and illegal hunting. They were expected to appear at Masisi magistrate's court on Tuesday.

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