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A SAPS graphic depicting that an investigation is underway.
Police say they’re looking into the motive for the shooting of a suspected rhino poaching kingpin in Mpumalanga.
The man is believed to be a key figure in a major rhino poaching syndicate.
This is the second attempt recent on the victim who was shot outside his business premises in Mkhuhlu outside Hazyview.
JUST IN | A suspected rhino poaching kingpin has been shot dead in Mpumalanga. More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/KSzIL0xkl3
— SABC News (@SABCNews) May 16, 2026
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo says, “It is reported that a white bakkie with two occupants stopped outside this business premises and two suspects, who are males, jumped out of the bakkie and approached the victim who was sitting with other people inside the business premises. So, he saw them approaching and he tried to run away, they followed him and they fired several shots at him. And he was fatally shot and was certified dead at the crime scene.”
Masondo says the earlier attempt on the man was similar.
“The modus operandi is the same because a week ago, the deceased was shot and injured here at his business premises. So, again, he was approached by one suspect who fired a shot at him. So, it happened again, but today we understand it was two suspects. The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed at this stage, but we cannot rule out that the two incidents are linked,” says Masondo.
Video| Suspected rhino poaching kingpin shot dead:
