Staff Reporter
A decade-long rhino horn trafficking case linked to Limpopo’s private wildlife industry has ended in the Polokwane High Court, where Dawie Groenewald was sentenced to a R2 million fine or four years’ imprisonment after entering into a plea agreement with the State.
The State finalised its case against Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus on Wednesday.
“Groenewald is regarded as the mastermind behind a large-scale rhino horn trafficking enterprise finally entered into a plea agreement with the State in this matter ending the pending legal saga of more than a decade regarding allegations of trafficking rhino horns, racketeering and money laundering,” NPA Limpopo regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi said.
Groenewald was sentenced on the main count of managing an enterprise, in contravention of Section 2(1)(f) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998, to a fine of R2 million or four years’ imprisonment. He was also sentenced to a further 10 years’ imprisonment, suspended for five years, with strict conditions.
Groenewald was further sentenced to “high value fines and imprisonment” on each of the other offences of which he was convicted. “The fines add up to more than R10 million and 36 years imprisonment,” Malabi said.
The sentences effectively restrict Groenewald for the next five years to act strictly in accordance with legislation relating to his rhino-related activities and other restricted wildlife activities, or face a lengthy prison sentence if he fails to comply with the conditions imposed under the plea and sentence agreement.
The charges stem from what the State described as “a well-designed rhino horn trafficking enterprise” dating back to incidents as far back as 2008.
According to the indictment, Groenewald, in his capacity as manager of the professional hunting outfitter “Out of Africa”, employed professional hunters and other individuals and managed the sourcing of rhino horns from his own rhinos and from other private rhino owners to supply the black market in Southeast Asia.
“The State agreed to the plea arrangement after considering all options in the interest of justice,” Malabi said. “A very important consideration was that no rhinos were poached by any of the accused.”
The case against Karel Toet, his wife Marisa Toet and Koos Pronk was remanded to 20 August 2026 for the outcome of representations to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP).
NDPP Advocate Andy Mothibi and Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Ivy Thenga said they were satisfied with the outcome, which ensured “that justice has been served even after decades of long legal sagas”.
INSIDE METROS
