Two poachers of protected plants received prison sentence on Friday, 1 December in the Springbok Magistrate’s Court.
The Namakwa District Management welcome the sentence that was handed down to Benedict Beukes (28) and Quinton Steenkamp (30).
Beukes and Steenkamp were arrested by the Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (Stesu) on 1 December 2020 on the N7 near Springbok when they were found in possession of Conophytum Pellucidum and Conophytum Pagea plants worth about R100 000.
The accused pleaded guilty on 22 February 2022 on a charge of dealing in protected plants and were sentenced on Friday to eight years imprisonment of which two are suspended.
The Namakwa District Commissioner, Brig. Schalk Andrews, commended Capt. Karel Du Toit and his Stesu team for the well-planned operation, meticulous investigation and sentence that was handed down to the protected plant-poachers, said Lt. Col Sergio Kock, police spokesperson.
