A regional court in Mpumalanga has sent two former conservation workers to prison for ten years after they killed a white rhino nearly a decade ago.

The Skukuza Regional Court handed down the sentence on Friday to Rodney Landela, who worked as a regional ranger at Kruger National Park, and Kenneth Mochocho, previously an animal health technician with the State Veterinary Service.

The pair shot and killed the rhino in July 2016 while using a state-issued firearm. Both men were found guilty of illegal hunting in a protected area and possessing a firearm with the intent to commit a crime.

Magistrates gave Landela and Mochocho ten years for the main charge of killing the rhino and four years for the firearm offence. The sentences will run at the same time, meaning both will serve ten years behind bars with no option for parole.

The court also ruled that neither man can legally own firearms in the future.

South African National Parks (SANParks) said it was pleased with the outcome, particularly because both men held positions meant to protect wildlife but instead used their access to commit the crime.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit is now working to claim the convicted men’s assets.

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SANParks said the case was especially serious because the two officials betrayed the trust placed in them. They used official equipment and their insider knowledge to carry out the killing.

The organisation said the court recognised how serious the crime was, noting that a fine or community sentence would not have been enough. The crime was driven by greed rather than need.

SANParks added that the jail term shows that anyone who kills rhinos or abuses their position in conservation will face harsh punishment. The organisation hopes the sentence will discourage others who might consider similar crimes.

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