Plant Poacher Hit With R250 000 Fine and 5 Years Suspended Imprisonment
Vredendal - CapeNature welcomes the sentencing of Mr. D. J. Human of Bloemfontein, who was charged under the Nature Conservation Ordinance 19 of 1974 for the poaching of succulent plants.
The convicted party was found guilty on three charges which included
1) unlawful and wrongful possession of protected plants without documentation;
2) unlawful picking of protected plants without documentation; and
3) the unlawful picking of protected plants without documentation and without authorisation/permission.
This was the ruling of the Vredendal Regional Court on Friday, 14 October 2022 for plant-related biodiversity crimes. The court found Mr. Human guilty and handed down a sentence comprising a R250 000 fine, of which R100 000 was suspended for 5 years, and 2 years imprisonment, which was suspended for 5 years. The condition of the suspension is that Mr. Human would not be found guilty of any crime related to the charges with which he was found guilty, in any province of South Africa.
The magistrate made it clear during his verdict that biodiversity crime is a crime against our people and our heritage and will not be taken lightly.
CapeNature CEO, Dr. Razeena Omar echoed these sentiments, “CapeNature is responsible for biodiversity conservation in the Western Cape and currently there is a shocking escalation in succulent plant poaching in our province. Between 2018 and now, six cases were registered on average per month and a rough average of 21 000 plants were seized per month. It is clear why succulent poaching presents a significant challenge to conservation and enforcement agencies. These sentences should serve as a deterrent to those intending to interfere with our natural heritage.”
What to do if you suspect plant poaching:
• Report suspicious activity to CapeNature. Contact details can be found at:
https://www.capenature.co.za/c...
• Dial 10111 from anywhere in South Africa and you will be transferred to the nearest police station to you. You may remain anonymous.
• If possible, record the vehicle registration number and a description of the vehicle and alleged perpetrators. Do so safely and discreetly.
• Do not attempt to intervene or confront alleged poachers.
• Report suspected illegal activity immediately and allow the law enforcement officers to deal with it in order to ensure arrest and prosecution.
Visuals of confiscated succulents.
Criminals have a way of packaging the contraband.
Related News
CapeNature Cubs Club Connect 2026 makes a splash with water-themed family fun
Scores of children and their families flocked to Jonkershoek Nature Reserve over the weekend to take part in a day of learning, laughter and connection in nature as part of CapeNature’s Cubs Club programme.
Around 70 children and their families took part in the Cubs Club Connect 2026 event to celebrate this year’s theme, Water. The event highlighted the importance of freshwater ecosystems, conservation, and responsible water use and featured a wide range of interactive, water-inspired activities designed to engage children between the ages of 4 and 13 years old. Teachers, group leaders and three Cubs Clubs groups also attended the event on Saturday.
JOINT STATEMENT: Final Action Plan for baboons includes a sanctuary, fencing, and more
The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) consisting of representatives from SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town, welcomes the judgment from the Western Cape High Court which allows the three authorities to continue with the implementation of the Action Plan for the management of the Chacma baboon population.
Reforest Fest returns to tackle climate action in the Western Cape
As the Western Cape recovers from one of its worst fire seasons on record, with over 132,000 hectares burned across the region in January alone, GreenpopĘĽs Reforest Fest returns this Easter weekend with a sense of renewed urgency. The four-day restoration festival at Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat aims to plant 5,000 indigenous trees in degraded forest patches as part of GreenpopĘĽs ongoing work in the region.
CapeNature rangers praised for heroic rescue of stranded UK tourist
A visit to the iconic Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area — one of the Garden Route’s most celebrated gems — turned into a life-threatening ordeal for a London tourist, and a powerful reminder of humanity of CapeNature’s field rangers. For Ms Rosalind Innes, Robberg had been a long-awaited addition to her South African travel itinerary.
CapeNature bust - R500,000 fine for illegal reptile trafficking in the Western Cape
On Thursday, 12 February 2026, a Spanish citizen Mr David Navarro Roman (41) was convicted in the Vredendal Regional Court for the illegal possession and importation of 22 Armadillo Girdled lizards (Ouroborus cataphractus) and one speckled dwarf tortoise (Chersobius signatus) from Northern Cape to the Western Cape.
How CapeNature and partners "Reverse the Red"
Reverse the Red is “a global coalition of conservation organisations and species experts working together to accelerate action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss” and every year, 7 February marks Reverse the Red day. The term stems from the effort conservations make to try and reduce the number of species on the IUCN Red List.