RANGERS SHOOT, KILL MAN (50)

SITEKI – Rangers at Mkhaya Game Reserve fatally wounded a 50-year-old man on Tuesday morning during their routine patrol in an area known to be targeted for poaching.

Daniel Gamedze from Mahlabatsini area under Siphofaneni Inkhundla, was certified dead upon arrival at the Good Shepherd Mission Hospital (GSMH), where he was rushed to after the shooting incident. The incident was confirmed by Big Game Parks (BGP), which oversees Mkhaya Game Reserve. In a statement sent to this publication yesterday, afternoon by Big Game Parks, they said, “Rangers at Mkhaya Game Reserve were on a routine patrol in an area known to be targeted for poaching. “During the course of the patrol, the rangers were alerted to the commotion of barking dogs, people and a warthog which was squealing. They rushed to the scene in the thick bush of the river within the boundary of Mkhaya Game Reserve.

“When the rangers came onto the scene, they found a group of suspects in the process of killing a warthog which had been trapped in a snare. The rangers announced their identity and shouted to the suspects to surrender their weapons and submit themselves to arrest. This was ignored, and warning shots were then fired. In the ensuing resist of arrest, one of the suspects was shot in the leg following the warning shots, while the others fled the scene. The rangers attempted to apply first aid to the wounded suspect, but he unfortunately succumbed (to the wound). One warthog, snares and other poaching equipment were recovered on the scene. The police were immediately informed and attended to the incident. They are investigating the circumstances of the incident.”

However, the family gave a different version of what unfolded during the shooting incident. According to his nephew, Mduduzi Ngcamphalala, Gamedze was shot in front of his three children aged between six and 15 years at the Mtimpofu River. Ngcamphalala claimed that his uncle died on the spot at the river banks, while his children fled the scene to raise the alarm on what had happened. Ngcamphalala alleged that Gamedze had left home with his children to irrigate vegetables in his garden situated just at the banks of the river at around 9am. He claimed that the deceased and his children were not armed with any weapons that could have given the idea that his uncle wanted to poach. According to him, the vegetable garden is situated closer to the river with the fence on the other side of it.

He claimed that the fencing was 100m from the riverbanks. He alleged that his uncle’s home was situated about a kilometre from the river.  Ngcamphalala said his uncle had eight children, with the eldest aged 18 and youngest five. He said he was staying with his children after his wife left him.

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