Rhino Horn Syndicate - Granted Bail
- LionExpose
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
National Prosecuting Authority statement.
"SIX ACCUSED ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE RHINO HORN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE APPEARED IN COURT
Six accused persons who are alleged to be involved in the rhino trafficking syndicate, John Frederick Hume (83), Former founder and owner of the Platinum Rhino Conservation Enterprise. Clive John Mervan Melville (63), Transport Maintenance Manager. Izak Hermanus Du Toit (50) Practicing attorney. Elizabeth Catharina Van Niekerk (58), Director of a non-profit organisation. Mattheus Hendrikus Wessels Poggenpoel (37), Insurance Broker and part time farmer and Johannes Abraham Hennop (52) Game Reserve Manager were all granted bail by the Pretoria Magistrates court.
Hume was granted R100 000 bail, Melville and Van Niekerk were each granted R10 000 bail while Hermanus Du Toit, Poggenpoel and Hennop were each granted R20 00 bail.
They are collectively facing a total of 55 charges of multiple counts of racketeering, fraud, contravention of the National Environmental Management Act (NAMBA), contravention of contravention of Riotous Assemblies Act, theft and money laundering
It is alleged that between 2017 and 2024, the accused operated an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate and defrauded the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE). They allegedly obtained permits to trade rhino horn locally, while intending to channel the horns into illegal international markets in Southeast Asia. The fraudulent scheme is estimated to involve 964 rhino horns valued at R250 million.
After intensive investigations by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (DPCI) Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, based at national headquarters, the six handed themselves over at the Pretoria Central Police Station on 19 August 2025, where they were formally arrested.
During bail proceedings, they all asked to be released on bail because they are not flight risk, they cooperated with the police investigations. Through their affidavits accused no 2 Melville disclosed to the court that he has 2019 previous conviction fraud and being in possession and transporting Rhino horns where he was sentenced to pay a fine. Accused no 5 Poggenpoel also disclosed to the court that he has 2009 previous conviction of possession of a Rhino horn where he paid an admission of guilt fee of R2500. Poggenpoel also disclosed that he has a pending case that will be appearing on 17 September 2025 at Winburg Magistrates’ Court because during the visit to his residence, the investigation team found ammunition that was not locked away in a safe and supposedly scheduled medicine without a permit.
The state, Advocate Patsy Jacobs read into the record an affidavit by the investigating officer Edward Du Plessis, confirming that the State did not oppose bail as the accused were not flight risks, their addresses had been verified, and they had cooperated with investigators. The State, however, requested bail conditions.
The court granted bail with the following conditions:
All accused must surrender their passports and may not apply for new travel documents while the matter is pending.
They must report to their nearest police station once a week.
They may not interfere with investigations, tamper with evidence, or influence witnesses.
They must not commit any offences while on bail.
The matter was postponed to 09 December 2025 in Court 16 for further investigations."
Issued by
Lumka Mahanjana
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Gauteng Division: Pretoria
Lieutenant Colonel
Christopher Singo
DPCI Spokesperson
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