A South African court has sentenced two rhino horn traffickers in what police described as the world's largest such case, partly concluding a nearly two-decade legal saga. Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus faced more than 1,700 charges, including illegally hunting and dehorning rhinos, racketeering, and money laundering.

Groenewald, described by South African police as the mastermind of the enterprise, was handed a 2 million rand (approximately £92,000) fine or four years' imprisonment after reaching a plea deal with the state. His co-accused was fined 100,000 rand or three years in prison, said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks unit.

South Africa is home to about a third of the world's critically endangered black rhino population, according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). It also holds more than 75% of all southern white rhinos, whose global population dropped 10% to fewer than 16,000 in 2024. The country accounts for 81% of rhino poaching cases in Africa in 2024.

Rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine but has no proven health benefits. While up-to-date estimates are scarce, a 2022 research paper suggests it can fetch tens of thousands of dollars per tonne on the black market. Police began investigating the case in 2007, and 11 people were arrested in 2010, including professional hunters, veterinarians, a helicopter pilot, and general workers involved in an organized criminal enterprise.

However, more than 15 years of delays followed amid legal challenges, including in the Constitutional Court. Two of the original 11 accused died during the proceedings, as did 10 of the state's 185 witnesses, while others emigrated. The case against three others was postponed to August 20.

Last year, South African rhino farmer John Hume was charged with five others for allegedly being part of a horn trafficking syndicate. Hume bred white rhinos on his farm and campaigned for legalizing and regulating horn trading in South Africa. He had about 2,000 rhinos when he sold his farm in 2023, claiming he could no longer afford to run it.

Source: www.theguardian.com