STELLALANDER-SETLAGOLE: A 56-year-old man was arrested during a tactical, intelligence-driven operation in Mahikeng on the morning of Tuesday, 16 April 2025, following a tip-off about the alleged possession of an unlicensed firearm and an endangered species.
According to reports, the suspect, a traditional healer originally from Lesotho, has been residing in Setlagole as a tenant for over ten years. Police acted swiftly on the information, conducting a search at his residence. While no firearm was found, police made a significant discovery of a pangolin shell with an estimated value of R500 000, according to experts from the Stock Theft Unit. Pangolins are a critically endangered species, and possession of their parts is illegal under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) 10 of 2024, Section 57(1). The suspect was immediately arrested and charged with contravention of this legislation. The suspect is expected to appear in the Setlagole Periodical Court on Tuesday, 22 April 2025. In the meantime, verification of the suspect’s legal status in South Africa is underway in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs. Major General Patrick Asaneng, Acting Provincial Commissioner of the North West Province, welcomed the arrest. He praised the police team for their diligence, stating, “All who commit crime of any sort will face the bitter wrath of the law.” The investigation continues.
