South African National Parks (SANParks) had laid a criminal charge against a soldier following a confrontation with a senior ranger at the Kingfischerspruit section of the Kruger National Park in December, the organisation said.
According to an article by Netwerk24 the ranger was allegedly confronting his own staff when the soldier intervened.
Reynold Thakhuli, General Manager: Media, PR and Stakeholder Relations at SANParks, confirmed to Tourism Update that the altercation occurred between senior game ranger, Richard Sowry, who is responsible for the section of the park, and soldier, Alfons Mosiuwa Mofula, who had abandoned his post, an area where more than 100 rhinos were poached last year, to watch a football match.
Spokesperson for the Department of Defence, Joy Peters, said on behalf of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF): “The Joint Operations Division can confirm that a Board of Inquiry was instituted and that the findings were submitted to the Convening Authority.
“The Convening Authority will now apply its mind in order to decide on what action needs to be taken,” she said.
Thakhuli said the soldier and some of his companions had been deployed in other areas of the park until the investigation was completed.
“SANParks would like to reiterate that we value our relationship with the SANDF. The fight against rhino poaching requires that we work with the SANDF, SAPS and other components of government, including civil society, in the fight against rhino poaching,” said Thakhuli. “As much as we view this incident in a serious light, the fight against the scourge will not be compromised by an isolated incident between these two individuals.”
