Staff Reporter
A Mozambican national has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Skukuza Regional Court for rhino poaching-related offences after being arrested in the Kruger National Park.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Friday that Faro Zitha, 31, pleaded guilty and was convicted on seven counts, including contravention of the Immigration Act, trespassing, possession of a firearm to commit a crime, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy to commit an offence.
In June, patrolling rangers encountered Zitha and his “unknown accomplices” in the Houtboschrand section of Kruger, where they allegedly had a hunting rifle and an axe.
Zitha was arrested while the accomplices escaped.
Prosecutors, who successfully opposed bail, told the court that Zitha was a repeat offender and had a previous Kruger trespassing conviction for which he was sentenced to three years’ direct imprisonment.
The court imposed multiple terms across the charges, some running concurrently, for an effective sentence of 10 years’ direct imprisonment, and declared him unfit to possess a firearm, the NPA said.
Rhino poaching remains a persistent threat in and around Kruger, one of the areas most targeted by wildlife crime.
South Africa recorded 420 rhinos poached in 2024, and the government flagged an uptick in killings in Kruger, where 88 rhinos were poached last year, up from 78 in 2023.
In the first three months of 2025, officials said 103 rhinos were killed nationwide, with 65 poached in national parks.
“The NPA welcomes the swift finalisation of this matter and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring accountability and protecting Africa’s precious wildlife for future generations,” the prosecuting authority said.
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