A tip from vigilant community members led to the arrest of three men for illegal hunting this past Saturday, in a case that highlights the ongoing threat poaching poses to local wildlife and the rule of law.
On Saturday, 01 November 2025, police in Loxton received information concerning a suspicious vehicle—a navy blue Ford Bakkie—traveling on the R63 Road between Loxton and Carnarvon.
Acting on the tip, officers located the stationary vehicle along the roadside. Upon a tactical approach and inspection, they made a grim discovery. Blood was visible on the load bin, and inside they found eight slaughtered steenbok and two slaughtered rabbits. Also present in the bakkie were knives covered in blood and two dogs.
The three male occupants, aged 19, 40, and 53, were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for possessing the slaughtered animals. Furthermore, they failed to produce any valid hunting permits. They were subsequently placed under arrest for illegal hunting.
Authorities confiscated the knives and the vehicle, which are believed to have been instrumental in the commission of the crime.