'Rasta' poacher finally arrested

An alleged “rasta” poacher, who is apparently quite the artful dodger and who is accused of poaching inside the Mapungubwe National Park, appeared in the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Friday, August 5.

Edson Ngobeni has been charged with various counts of trespassing and catching wild animals without the necessary permits. Ngobeni supposedly managed to elude capture for almost five years, operating with an AK47 and snares and was thought, by some, to be a ghost. The meat of the game he caught supposedly crossed the border into Zimbabwe.

Following a tip-off, park rangers managed to arrest Ngobeni on March 23 last year when he planned to sell meat at a nearby farm. Two park rangers pretended to be Zimbabweans and waited at the farm for Ngobeni. According to information available, Ngobeni got wind of the trap and fled. However, park rangers were quick to gain on him where he was hiding in nearby bushes. Dried meat and muti were found in his possession. The muti was allegedly used to hide his presence in Mapungubwe. After his arrest, Ngobeni apparently asked one of the rangers how it was possible for the ranger to find him hiding in the bushes, covered by his muti. The ranger replied that muti does not work on a man of God.

After Ngobeni’s capture, park rangers received praise from all the local communities and farmers surrounding the park.

Ngobeni’s case was postponed until August 30, and he will remain in custody until then.

Date:19 August 2011

By: 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.

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