Two field rangers accused of turning their wildlife protection duties into an alleged gateway for an illegal wildlife operation are heading to court after allegedly helping create a fraudulent hunting permit used to capture endangered species worth more than R4 million.

The 40-year-old and 62-year-old rangers, together with a 41-year-old community member, have been served with summons to face charges of fraud, corruption and contravention of environmental legislation.

The case stems from an alleged wildlife operation in May 2023 that police say involved a helicopter, a truck and a group of men targeting endangered animals inside a SANParks nature reserve.

According to Limpopo police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the three suspects allegedly worked together on 25 and 26 May 2023 to create a fraudulent hunting permit purportedly issued under the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Police allege that the 41-year-old suspect then entered the reserve to hunt and capture endangered wild animals, allegedly with the assistance of the two field rangers stationed there.

The operation allegedly escalated into a sophisticated wildlife capture mission.

The suspects, together with four other alleged accomplices, are accused of using a helicopter to dart endangered animals, before loading them onto a truck and transporting them to undisclosed locations.

The animals allegedly taken during the operation were valued at more than R4 million.

What began as a suspected wildlife crime eventually triggered a broader investigation after the matter was reported to the DFFE and referred to the SAPS Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit.

Investigators spent about three years pursuing the case before referring it to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision.

The prosecution subsequently paved the way for summons against all seven men allegedly linked to the operation.

On Friday, 18 September 2026, members of the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit, accompanied by DFFE officials, served summons on three of the suspects.

The trio is expected to appear before the Senwabarwana Magistrates’ Court in Bochum on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, where they will face the fraud, corruption and environmental charges.

The four remaining suspects are reportedly being traced and will also be served with summons once located.

Police say the investigation remains ongoing.