{"id":107184,"date":"2025-04-17T11:23:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T09:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zimbabwean-man-gets-110-year-sentence-in-south-africa-for-prison-break-firearms-rhino-poaching-rape-and-kidnapping"},"modified":"2025-04-22T22:50:35","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T20:50:35","slug":"zimbabwean-man-gets-110-year-sentence-in-south-africa-for-prison-break-firearms-rhino-poaching-rape-and-kidnapping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/zimbabwe\/all-news\/zimbabwean-man-gets-110-year-sentence-in-south-africa-for-prison-break-firearms-rhino-poaching-rape-and-kidnapping","title":{"rendered":"Zimbabwean Man Gets 110-Year Sentence In South Africa For Prison Break, Firearms, Rhino Poaching, Rape And Kidnapping"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. <\/strong><\/span>A 54-year-old Zimbabwean fugitive, Thomas Chauke, also known as Sazu Nkambuya, has been sentenced to 110 years in prison by the Makhanda High Court in South Africa for a string of serious crimes, including rhino poaching, escaping custody, and illegal possession of firearms.<\/p>\n

Chauke pleaded guilty to six counts of rhino poaching and wildlife-related offences, as well as three counts of escaping lawful custody. His conviction followed a comprehensive investigation by the SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit.<\/p>\n

According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi, Chauke was a highly sought-after fugitive, linked to numerous violent crimes across Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West provinces. These included cases of armed robbery, rape, and kidnapping.<\/p>\n

Before his escape, Chauke was serving five life sentences at Kgosi Mampuru Prison for previous serious offences. He escaped on December 9, 2020, prompting a nationwide manhunt.<\/p>\n

He was rearrested on March 25, 2024, by the Modimolle STES Unit, after being found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.<\/p>\n

Further investigation revealed his involvement in more criminal activities, including rhino poaching and firearm offences across multiple provinces.<\/p>\n

To build a strong case, the STES team worked closely with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to merge dockets from various provinces, leading to a successful prosecution.<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Colonel Mukhathi praised the STES team\u2019s efforts, saying they remain committed to protecting both wildlife and the public by bringing dangerous criminals to justice.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A 54-year-old Zimbabwean fugitive, Thomas Chauke, also known as Sazu Nkambuya, has been sentenced to 110 years in prison by the Makhanda High Court in South Africa for a string of serious crimes, including rhino poaching, escaping custody, and illegal possession of firearms. Chauke pleaded guilty to six counts of rhino poaching […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":107183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[15294,19],"class_list":["post-107184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-cottco-holdings-limited-afc-limited","tag-zimbabwe"],"yoast_head":"\nZimbabwean Man Gets 110-Year Sentence In South Africa For Prison Break, Firearms, Rhino Poaching, Rape And Kidnapping - zimbabwe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A 54-year-old Zimbabwean fugitive, Thomas Chauke, also known as Sazu Nkambuya, has been sentenced to 110 years in prison ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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