Court Hands Down Eight Years Imprisonment to Protected Plant Poacher

11 April 2025

Court Hands Down Eight Years Imprisonment to Protected Plant Poacher

Springbok, Northern Cape –Hanro Owies (24) has been sentenced to eight years of direct imprisonment by the Springbok Regional Court and after the court found him guilty of illegally transporting and trading protected plant species. The conviction relates to contraventions of the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act 9 of 2009.

In December 2022, the DPCI (Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit in Springbok received intelligence-driven information about illegal dealings involving the Conophytum plant, a highly sought-after and protected species in Garies, in the Namakwa area. The team immediately launched an undercover operation along the N7 route near a private farm, where the accused was expected to meet a potential buyer.

In a hasty move, Owies approached an unmarked law enforcement vehicle, believing it to be the buyers. He was promptly arrested by members of the Hawks, who found 2,863 Conophytum plants in his possession. The entire haul was seized.

Addressing the court in aggravation of sentence, Regional Court Prosecutor Basil Kock emphasized the need to send a strong message to poachers and environmental criminals, stressing that the illegal harvesting of protected plants poses a severe threat to biodiversity and could lead to the extinction of indigenous species that future generations may never experience in their natural habitat.

The court concurred with the State’s argument and sentenced Owies to 8 years' direct imprisonment for unlawful transportation of protected species without a permit. The court also sentenced the accused to 8 years of direct imprisonment on count 2, Unlawful trade in protected species without a permit.
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, resulting in an effective 8-year term of direct imprisonment. Furthermore, the court declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm in terms of Section 103(1) of the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000.

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence and hopes it serves as a deterrent to those who exploit South Africa’s natural heritage for personal gain. This judgment reaffirms the commitment of the State and its law enforcement partners to combat environmental crimes with the seriousness they deserve.

Issued by:

Mojalefa Senokoatsane

NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
Email: MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
Contact: 073 423 3539