The police in Kuruman arrested a 36-year-old foreign national after he was found in possession of two live pangolins in Perth, Heuningvlei in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
THE POLICE in Kuruman arrested a 36-year-old foreign national after he was found in possession of two live pangolins in Perth, Heuningvlei in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.
The police visited a cattle post in the area on July 7 where they discovered the critically endangered species.
Northern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Sam said that upon arrival at the cattle post, the police requested a foreign national for permission to search the place.
“Members found two pangolins inside an unused water crib. The suspect was arrested and charged with possession of an endangered specie under the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), 10 of 2004,” said Sam.
He added that the suspect was expected to appear in the Kuruman Magistrate’s Court on July 10.
The John Taole Gaetsewe district commissioner, Major-General Johnny Besnaar, applauded the police members for reacting timeously on information provided by the public.
“Crimes occurring in places that the police cannot immediately reach require local safety strategies spearheaded by community safety forums,” he noted.
