Arrested SA poaching gang linked to Minister Kembo Mohadi
By Tererai Karimakwenda
22nd September 2010
Dawie Groenewald, owner of the notorious Out of Africa Adventure Safaris
company and his wife, Sariette, were arrested on Monday in South Africa, for
allegedly being the masterminds behind an illegal rhino poaching gang. Nine
other people, including veterinarians and hunters, were also arrested for
poaching.
The gang appeared before a magistrate in South Africa on Wednesday, which is
ironically also the day declared International Rhino Day by the World
Wildlife Fund (WWF). The case was postponed until April 11th, 2011, after
Groenewald reportedly posted bail of about one million rand, with the others
paying less.
Out of Africa has been linked to top officials in Mugabe’s party,
particularly the Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi. The company became
notorious during the height of the farm invasions when they arranged hunting
safaris on farms stolen by ZANU PF officials. Out of Africa was subsequently
banned from entering the country in September 2004 by the Zimbabwe Parks and
Wildlife Management Authority.
Sources told us that Minister Mohadi was responsible for facilitating the
release of South African poachers when they were arrested in Zimbabwe.
But this time Groenewald and his partners have been arrested by South
African authorities. Their ability to pay so much money in bail and the
postponement till next year only raises further questions as to the extent
of their connections to government officials in both countries.
Our sources, who chose to remain anonymous, told us that Mohadi interfered
in a case last year that involved a well known South African poacher named
Johan Roos. They said Roos, who lives in Musina, was captured inside
Zimbabwe after a shoot out in the Bubye River Conservancy, where one guard
was killed and another seriously injured. Roos was detained in the police
cells in Beitbridge for two nights, but was suddenly released under unclear
circumstances.
Raoul du Toit, director of the Lowveld Rhino Trust a partnership of key
stakeholders, confirmed that Roos had indeed been arrested in August 2009.
He explained that Roos was named in numerous other poaching cases as the guy
who supplied weaponry, firearms and ammunition, and that it was through him
that poachers had traded their rhino horns.
As to why Roos was released du Toit responded: “He was caught and released
on grounds that can only be called dubious. But it’s like so many of these
other cases. That syndicate has clearly infiltrated the officials
responsible for holding him. It should come as no surprise that this was at
Beitbridge, which to be absolutely honest is as a cesspool of corruption.”
Beitbridge falls under Minister Mohadi’s jurisdiction as a member of
parliament.