[imagesource: Lowvelder]

I can think of a few South Africans with a knack for avoiding jail, although one of the most notorious now finds himself tucked behind bars at Estcourt Correctional Centre.

In the profitable world of rhino horn syndicates, one name stands tall above the rest – Dawie Groenewald, pictured above right.

He’s credited with having “a genius for staying out of jail” by The Daily Maverick, although his luck may have finally run out.

This week, Groenewald was arrested and charged with the possession and selling of rhino horns to the value of R2,6 million.

19 horns were seized, along with two Toyota Hilux bakkies, and Groenewald is being charged alongside Schalk Steyn (above left).

Both were actually out on bail at the time of the arrest:

Groenewald’s Zuma-style use of Stalingrad stalling tactics has kept him one jump ahead of the law for more than a decade. In 2010 he was arrested with nine co-accused, including his wife Sariette [with Groenewald below], after 20 rhino carcasses were excavated at his farm, Prachtig, following a 15-month investigation called Project Cruiser. Further investigations revealed the horns had been removed before the animals were buried.

Image: IOL

The 10 faced 1,736 charges, including racketeering, organised crime, money laundering, illegal hunting of rhino and dealing in rhino horn. Since then trial date postponements have stacked up.

The United States Department of Justice even got involved in 2014, asking that Groenewald and his brother, Janneman, be extradited so that they could face charges on US soil.

According to IOL, Groenewald’s co-accused in the charges against him in this country “include a helicopter pilot, two veterinarians, and professional hunters”.

Postponement after postponement followed, and in 2018, a trial date was set for 2021, with further delays due to COVID-19.

The Lowvelder reports that both men appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, with the case postponed to today for a formal bail application

Both men will remain in custody for the time being.

[sources:dailymaverick&iol&lowvelder]