South African men sentenced in ‘world’s largest’ rhino-horn trafficking case

A South African court has sentenced two men involved in rhino-horn trafficking, marking a significant development in what authorities are calling the world's largest case of its kind. Dawie Groenewald and Tielman Erasmus faced a combined total of more than 1,700 charges. These included allegations of illegally hunting rhinos, dehorning them, racketeering, and money laundering.

Groenewald, identified by police as the "mastermind" behind the operation, reached a plea deal with the state. He was fined 2 million rand (approximately £92,000) or given a four-year prison sentence. His co-accused, Erasmus, received a fine of 100,000 rand or three years in prison, according to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks unit.

South Africa is home to a significant portion of the world's critically endangered black rhino population and over 75% of southern white rhinos. The country grapples with severe rhino-horn poaching, accounting for 81% of poaching incidents in Africa in 2024. Rhino horn is falsely believed to have medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine, despite lacking any health benefits, and can fetch high prices on the black market.

This legal saga has been protracted, spanning nearly two decades. The investigation began in 2007, with 11 arrests made in 2010, including professional hunters and veterinary surgeons. However, over 15 years of legal challenges, including cases before the constitutional court, have led to significant delays. During this time, two of the original accused and 10 state witnesses have died, while others have emigrated. The cases against three other individuals remain postponed.