We, the undersigned concerned members of the public, hereby submit this petition calling for

bail to be denied against all four accused persons for conspiring to poach rhino

On the morning of Wednesday, 25 June 2025, a joint operation comprising the NAMPOL Blue

Rhino Task Team, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Kyani Anti-

Poaching, and the Namibian Police (ONP) led to the successful interception of four well-known

poaching suspects approximately 27 kilometers south of Otjiwarongo. This successful arrest

was due to intelligence led covert operation.

Upon searching the suspects vehicle, authorities uncovered multiple poaching paraphernalia

that are now seized, which includes, one .375 hunting rifle, 20x ammunition, one vehicle and

other several items such as six knives, eight loafs of bread, nine canned food, two five litters

of water containers, one axe, one curtain, three blankets and one mattress.

Given the severity of this crime one of the accused (Kaventji Ngandi) has six rhino pending

related cases, namely, Grooffontein CR 45/08/2020, Trans Kalahari CR 03/08/2022, Trans

Kalahari CR 06/11/2022, Omulunga CR 17/01/2025, Okamatapati CR 04/04/2025 and

Otjiwarongo CR 166/06/2025. It is within public interest that all accused persons remain in

custody pending the finalisation of the case. We, the concerned public, urge this honourable

court to ensure that these individuals face the full extent of the law. The repeated exploitation

of our nation’s wildlife, to fund criminal lifestyles cannot be accepted.

The offence committed falls under section 61 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, as

amended, which states that if an accused charged with an offence under Part IV of Schedule

2 applies for bail under section 60 of the said Act, the court may refuse bail even if satisfied

the accused is unlikely to abscond or interfere with witnesses or investigations. The court can

deny bail if it believes, after a necessary inquiry, that denying bail of the accused persons is in

the public interest or necessary for the administration of justice pending trial.

There is reasonable suspicion that the accused are no strangers to criminal networks operating

within the illegal hunting of rhino and dealing. This all points to a strong possibility of this case

being one of organized crime and release of suspects of such networks are likely to have a

very high propensity to continue criminal activities within their networks.

Now is the time to stand united and declare: Enough is enough. We respectfully implore the

Court to deny bail and to ensure that these accused persons are kept away from our streets and to send a clear message that such crime will not be tolerated. Our wildlife and farming

communities deserve justice and protection.