R116m rhino horn heist case on hold

More than 100 rhino horns were stolen from this strongroom at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. Photo: Supplied

More than 100 rhino horns were stolen from this strongroom at the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency. Photo: Supplied

Published Oct 15, 2014

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Nelspruit - The case against four Mpumalanga men arrested in connection with the theft of 112 rhino horns valued at more than R116 million was postponed on Wednesday for further investigation.

The four accused - Gideon Mtshali, 51, Leonard Sizwe Malatjie, 34, Velly William Zwane, 43 and Selby George Khoza, 39 - appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court, a Sapa correspondent reported.

State prosecutor Ansie Venter asked for a postponement in absentia.

The case was previously postponed when Venter was reportedly sick.

The four accused face charges of theft and housebreaking relating to the pieces of rhino horn which were stolen in the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency offices in Mbombela.

Mtshali and Malatjie were arrested on June 6 and 7 respectively. Khoza was arrested on June 23 in Pretoria where he worked, and Zwane was arrested on July 2 after handing himself over to police.

Both Mtshali and Malatjie have pleaded not guilty to housebreaking and theft charges while Khoza and Zwane have not been asked to plead to the same charges.

The accused are all out on R20 000 bail each.

Magistrate Christa du Plessis postponed the case to December 8 for further police investigation.

Sapa

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