In a decisive victory for wildlife protection and justice, the Makhanda High Court has sentenced Thomas Chauke, a 54-year-old Zimbabwean national and long-wanted fugitive, to 110 years in prison for an extensive list of crimes, including rhino poaching, wildlife trafficking, and escaping lawful custody.
Known by the alias Sazu Nkambuya, Chauke had been a top target for law enforcement, wanted for a string of rhino poaching operations and wildlife crimes spanning multiple provinces—Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West. But his criminal history ran deeper and darker.
Chauke had already been serving five life sentences at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Services for violent crimes such as armed robbery, rape, and kidnapping before making a dramatic escape from custody on 9 December 2020. His disappearance launched a full-scale manhunt led by the SAPS Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit—a team specially trained in tackling environmental and organized crimes.
After years on the run, justice caught up with him. On Monday, 28 February 2025, Chauke pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife-related offenses and three counts of escape. The Makhanda High Court then handed down a 110-year prison sentence, one of the harshest punishments for a wildlife crime offender in South Africa to date.
In a statement, the SAPS commended the relentless work of the STES detectives, affirming:
“The STES team remains dedicated to safeguarding both wildlife and the community from individuals engaged in criminal activities and ensuring that those responsible are brought to book and held accountable.”
This case serves as a powerful warning to organized poaching syndicates and violent criminals alike—South African law enforcement is watching, and justice will be served.
