From Daily Maverick · Fred Kockott · · 3m
Crown prince ranger sentenced for rhino killing
Rodney Landela, once Kruger's most respected ranger, gets 10 years for poaching a white rhino. Forensic evidence, DNA, cartridges, GPS data, dismantled his wild dog cover story.
In brief
Rodney Landela, once Kruger's most respected ranger, gets 10 years for poaching a white rhino. Forensic evidence, DNA, cartridges, GPS data, dismantled his wild dog cover story. Rodney Landela, a senior Kruger ranger once tipped to become chief ranger, was sentenced to ten years in prison for killing a white rhino in…
The arrest at the firebreak
Field ranger Hanyi Samuel Ndlovu blocked a white Hilux at the Majekejeni firebreak, about 300m from reported gunshots. The passenger who stepped out was his supervisor, regional ranger Rodney Landela.
The cover story unfolds
Landela ordered driver Kenneth Muchocho to find cellphone reception to alert area manager Mbongeni Tukela about gunshots in Block 37.He then insisted on driving off himself to speak privately to Tukela about requesting armed backup.
The charges laid
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Landela and Muchocho were arrested and charged with killing a white rhino and attempting to defeat the ends of justice. The prosecution would rest on forensic evidence rather than ranger testimony.
The crown prince's rise
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Landela joined SANParks in 2001 as a general worker and built a 15-year exemplary career, rising to regional ranger for Marula North.
High esteem in the ranks
Dr Xolani Funda, SANParks' general manager for area integrity management, testified that Landela was widely regarded as the crown prince of the ranger corps.
“crown prince of the ranger corps”
The wild dog defence
Landela testified he and Muchocho were scouting for wild dogs with canine distemper on 27 July 2016.
Explaining the DNA evidence
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Landela claimed he had touched the rhino carcass found near where the Hilux was spotted.
His account of the blood
To account for rhino DNA on his green jumpsuit and boots, Landela conceded blood from the carcass touched him.
“I can't deny that bits of blood from the rhino touched me.”
State witnesses contradict him
Detective Matuludi Selatole, Senior Investigator Kenneth Maggs and Kobus de Wet testified that Landela and Muchocho were suspects under guard and never permitted near the carcass.The defence called no witnesses to support their framing claim.
The prosecutor's logic
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Advocate Lot Mgiba argued that for Landela's account to be true, an unknown person would have entered his locked office, taken his rifle and tools, shot a rhino in Block 37, and placed items under…
The patrol plan changed
A duty roster on 26 July 2016 showed most field rangers would be off for month-end payday.
GPS data shows the Hilux
Vehicle-tracking GPS data showed Muchocho's Hilux remained stationary in Block 37 near the rhino kill site for more than 25 minutes before patrol leader Selby Magopane reported gunshots.
The hidden stash discovered
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Following shoe imprints into dense vegetation about 20m from the S106 road, investigators found a rifle bag beneath a shaded thorn bush.Inside lay Landela's state-issued .
Sentence and message
Regional magistrate MJ Ngobeni sentenced both men to 10 years in prison on Friday in Skukuza Regional Court.
“a dog biting its owner”
SANParks' response
SANParks welcomed the sentences, saying the court recognised the gravity of the crime including misuse of a state-issued firearm.
What to remember
Rodney Landela, a senior Kruger ranger once tipped to become chief ranger, was sentenced to ten years in prison for killing a white rhino in 2016. Forensic evidence including rhino DNA on his boots and spent cartridges proved his guilt despite his claim he was framed.
