Lephalale man gets bail after alleged illegal slaughter of rhinos

LEPHALALE – Lawyers acting on behalf of Antonio Xavier Freitas (55) filed an urgent bail application last Friday to have their client released from police custody in Lephalale, after he was arrested on charges relating to the illegal slaughter of seven rhinos on his farm in the Steenbokpan area. He was released on R250 000 bail on Tuesday and will appear in the Lephalale Magistrates court again on 2 March.

Freitas was released on bail but had to hand in both his passports and is not allowed to enter the farm without the permission of the investigating officer. He is also not allowed to leave the district (without permission) or talk to potential witnesses.

Freitas was arrested last Friday for charges under the biodiversity act after the police’s Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, the Heritage Protection Group (HPG) as well as representatives from the department of environmental affairs and SANParks found body parts belonging to seven rhino’s in a cold storage room on his farm following a month-long investigation.

According to HPG, a non-provit organization consisting of police reservists that assist the Limpopo police in serious cases, the police received information relating the the hunt or killing of the rhino’s which were allegedly brought to the farm in November. Rhinos are considered highly-endangered due to poaching for their horns and South Africa is viewed as the primary custodian of Africa’s rhinos.

The police has been investigating Freitas since receiving information that the seven rhinos were killed and dehorned on a farm last year in November. “It is alleged that the rhinos were transported in trucks to the farm where the animals were slaughtered. The origin of these rhino’s is still being investigated,” says police spokesperson Brig. Motlafela Mojapelo.

The law states that rhino hunting is legal if the hunter has a permit but the law stipulates than an environmental management official would have to be present at all hunts. The law states that all rhino deaths, natural or not, have to be reported to the authorities timeously.

The police pounced on the farm after obtaining a search warrant and found seven rhino tails, eight portions of lower legs and meat packed in a cold storage room. Rhino hides were also found.

Police are investigating allegations that a helicopter was seen loading rhino horns and taking off from the farm. More arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is requested to contact Warrant Officer van Heerden at 0824142337.