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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has welcomed the recent sentencing of notorious poaching kingpin Simon Ernesto Valoi by a Mozambican court.
Valoi, also known as “Navara,” was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison by a Mozambican court for his involvement in leading a rhino poaching syndicate. His accomplice, Paulo Zukula, has also been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Valoi was convicted of several serious crimes, including funding terrorism, poaching, and money laundering. According to a South African Government News Agency report, Valoi has long played a key role in the illegal poaching field, which targets South Africa’s valuable rhino population.
Valoi and his accomplice, Zukula, were arrested in July 2022 by the National Criminal Investigation Service officers (SERNIC) and the Wildlife Justice Commission in Maputo.
George applauded Mozambican authorities, SERNIC, and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their coordination in the intelligence operation that led to the arrest and successful prosecution of Valoi and his accomplices.
“This sentencing is a critical victory in the ongoing fight against poaching and organised wildlife crime. The sentencing of Simon Ernesto Valoi and Paulo Zukula sends a powerful message that those who engage in the destruction of our natural resources will face the full force of the law,” said George.
He further urged all South Africans to remain vigilant and report any suspected environmental crimes to the authorities.
“Communities play a vital role in the fight against poaching, and by working together with law enforcement agencies, we can make significant strides in safeguarding our environment for future generations,” he said.
According to the International Rhino Foundation, a total of 448 rhinos were illegally poached for their horns and killed across South Africa in 2022. In that year alone, 124 rhinos were killed in Kruger National Park, with no poaching reported in any other national park.
These numbers led to a significant decline in the rhino populations within Kruger National Park. The white rhino population decreased by 71% from 2011, while the black rhino herd declined by 51%.
