Seven arrested for illegal gemsbok hunt in Namakwa

IN A SWIFT operation by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Namakwa District, seven suspects aged between 28 and 47 were arrested for hunting without a permit. The arrest was made after police received a tip-off about a Gemsbok that had allegedly been slaughtered and abandoned under a bridge along the Lus10 – Aggeneys road.

Acting on the information, Aggeneys police quickly located and intercepted a vehicle suspected of being involved in the incident. Upon inspection, officers found the carcass of a Gemsbok loaded at the back of a bakkie. All seven individuals in the vehicle were taken into custody.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Pofadder Magistrate's Court today, 27 May 2025, to face charges related to illegal hunting.

The Namakwa District SAPS emphasised their ongoing commitment to the protection of endangered and protected species in the region. Authorities have warned that anyone found guilty of crimes related to wildlife offences will face the full extent of the law.

Police Spokesperson Captain Ivan Magerman confirmed the arrests and added that investigations are ongoing.