Kruger's former 'crown prince' ranger is convicted of killing a rhino, ten years on
Rodney Landela was once seen as a future leader of the park's rangers. A court has found that he and a state veterinary technician shot a white rhino in 2016.
Skukuza — A former regional ranger at South Africa's Kruger National Park, once described by a park manager as the "crown prince" of its ranger corps, has been convicted of killing a white rhino, Daily Maverick reports.
Rodney Landela and Kenneth Muchocho, a state veterinary technician, were found guilty on Friday at the Skukuza Regional Court of killing the rhino and of possessing a firearm to commit a crime. The case took a decade to conclude.
They will be sentenced on 16 October and remain in custody until then.
The night in 2016
The rhino was killed on 27 July 2016 in the Kingfisherspruit section of the park. Rangers on patrol heard three gunshots.
Hidden under a thorn bush, investigators found a .375 rifle, a severed rhino horn, a bloodstained axe and spent cartridges. Rhino DNA was found on Landela's clothing and boots.
Who they were
Landela was 34 when he was arrested. He had joined South African National Parks in 2001 and risen to regional ranger. Shortly before his arrest he had been nominated for an executive position at the Game Rangers' Association of Africa.
Muchocho worked as an animal health technician for the agriculture department and was stationed at Skukuza.
Both men said they had been framed. Landela told the court his rifle and equipment had been locked in his office safe the evening before.
The judgment was delivered by the regional magistrate MJ Ngobeni.
This report is based on reporting by Daily Maverick.
