In another police success story, the SAPS at Muswodi, just south of the Zimbabwe border in the Musina municipal area, clamped down on the illegal trade in endangered wildlife by arresting two men found in possession of two live pangolins without the required permits.
On 14 August, the Muswodi police received a tip-off about a suspicious vehicle – a blue VW Polo with Gauteng registration plates – allegedly transporting protected species in the Masisi policing area. Acting swiftly, the officers traced and intercepted the vehicle.
With the driver's consent, a search was conducted, leading to the discovery of two live pangolins hidden in the boot. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were allegedly seeking a buyer for the animals and could not produce the necessary permits for their possession.
The suspects, the 38-year-old Andries Bhuda from Mpumalanga and 34-year-old Newanghati Tshirilela from Musina, were arrested and detained. They appeared in the Musina Magistrate's Court on Monday, 18 August, facing charges of possession of protected species without a permit. They were remanded in custody and their case was postponed until 25 August for profiling and further investigation.
The provincial police commissioner, Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe, applauded the members of Muswodi SAPS for acting promptly on the information received, which led to the men's arrest. The two pangolins are being kept in a place of protection and to receive medical treatment.
According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the penalties for transporting and attempting to sell pangolins – listed as a highly protected species – without the required permits are severe.
Under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), penalties can include a fine of up to R5 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. For second or subsequent convictions, the penalty can escalate to a R10 million fine or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
The law is strict: if a permit does not cover the activity, or if no valid permit is held, the penalty can be even harsher. Some cases have resulted in direct imprisonment of up to 10 years without the option of a fine, particularly for illegal trading or trafficking of pangolins, which are considered critically endangered.