OUR BURNING PLANET
Rhino ‘kingpin’ arrested again for dealing in horn
Dawie Groenewald has managed to stay out of jail after endless postponements of smuggling and racketeering cases against him. Could this be the last time?
One of South Africa’s most notorious alleged rhino syndicate bosses with a genius for staying out of jail, Dawie Groenewald was arrested this week, charged with the illegal possession and selling of rhino horns.
He was apprehended with his co-accused Schalk Steyn, in possession of 19 rhino horns with an estimated value of R2.6-million. Two Toyota Hilux bakkies were also seized.
One of South Africa’s most notorious rhino syndicate bosses with a genius for staying out of jail, Dawie Groenewald, was arrested this week charged with the illegal possession and selling of rhino horns. (Photo: Supplied)
Groenewald’s Zuma-style use of Stalingrad stalling tactics has kept him one jump ahead of the law for more than a decade. In 2010 he was arrested with nine co-accused, including his wife Sariette, after 20 rhino carcasses were excavated at his farm, Prachtig, following a 15-month investigation called Project Cruiser. Further investigations revealed the horns had been removed before the animals were buried.
The 10 faced 1,736 charges, including racketeering, organised crime, money laundering, illegal hunting of rhino and dealing in rhino horn. Since then trial date postponements have stacked up.
In 2014 the United States Department of Justice appealed to South Africa to extradite Groenewald and his brother, Janneman, to face criminal charges, including money laundering and violating environmental laws.
Schalk Steyn. (Photo: Supplied)
He was alleged to have solicited wealthy Americans to hunt rhinos at his farm in Musina and to have sourced rhino horns from other farmers for the illegal international black market. A Limpopo court refused the extradition order and his arrest by Interpol.
Groenewald was also linked to a Czech poaching syndicate operating between South Africa and Vietnam, but denied any knowledge of the outfit.
The postponements continued, one caused while the prosecution awaited a Constitutional Court ruling that finally confirmed the lifting of South Africa’s moratorium on domestic trade in rhino horn. The outcome was that the State dropped about 60 charges against the accused and an amended charge sheet was subsequently served on the group.
In 2018, the trial was postponed yet again, this time to 2021, though the prosecution at the time said it had been ready for more than a year to call its witnesses.
In February Judge Bert Bam in the Pretoria High Court demanded to know why the trial had been delayed for so long. “This case has been dragging its heels for very long. I want to know what the delays are and what is going to be done to streamline the process,” the judge said.
He demanded a detailed affidavit from the defence team, setting out what caused the delays. “I have no idea what is going on and it is very peculiar that this case is not moving forward. If I find that anyone has delayed this matter on purpose, I will consider making an appropriate order in that regard.”
The case was set for March, but it seems Covid intervened.
The accused were out on bail when they were arrested in connection with an attempt to smuggle 19 more rhino horns. DM/OBP
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Limpopo court refused extradition?Say no more.Obvious this criminal has high connections.In South Africa nothing surprises one anymore,except the goodwill of the law abiding working class.Like Vavi said SA has become a hyena state.Get Batohi and Hermoine Crknje updated on this.Hope they get 200 years effective jail time.
Let them out on bail – a couple of people would like to take them away for a weekend at a game farm. There will be plenty of opportunity to interact with the wildlife, close and personal.
On the contrary, I reckon throw them into a crowded jail cell until such time that they have their day in court. Only way to speed up the process. Hopefully someone will then surreptitiously throw away the key!
Good suggestion, somewhere truly wild, in Afghanistan perhaps
Did Judge Bam get an answer yet? At least someone did not let go, hence their arrests. Thank you to him/her/them.
Disgusting, but not surprising with all the shenanigans going on in this country at the moment.
Join up the pieces. One of his friends and associates is John Hume.
Let them rot
We we’re in the Kruger Park in for three weeks in May and saw so many anti poaching patrols. We also saw the anti poaching teams in the morning, sitting on the edge of the road asleep, waiting to be collected, having spent the night on patrol. At one camp we heard dogs and a helicopter searching for poachers. Yes, I know that there are some bad actors in the anti poaching units but on the whole these are good men and women who brave the heat and cold and poachers with high calibre firearms. All the while these white collared criminals reap the rewards and decimate our wild life. Lock them up. Follow the money- That is how you will convict them
Let them rot in jail!!! No mercy!
An absolute disgrace. Heartbreaking for all those men and women working to save rhinos. South Africa should be deeply ashamed. I feel I need to repeat: deeply ashamed.