Supposed to protect the rhino Conservation official and businessman arrested for illegally dealing in rhino horn 

Rustenburg – A suspected rhino horn dealing duo consisting of an official from the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT) and the owner of a security company were arrested in connection with illegal rhino horn trade on Thursday 7 October.

The DEDECT official was arrested in Rustenburg. They are both charged with contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, the Rhino Norms and Standards.

Their vehicle was also seized by a multi-departmental team comprising members of the Department’s Green Scorpions, the Hawks, the DEDECT and the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (DENC). 

According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment spokesperson Albi Modise, the suspects are alleged to have moved 17 individual detached rhino horns from the Northern Cape to North West in contravention of permit conditions of both provinces. 

The suspects appeared before the Mmabatho Magistrates’ Court on 11 October. 

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