Alleged poacher dies after shootout with rangers in KNP - EMSAMO NEWS

By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane

A suspected poacher was fatally wounded by Field Rangers inside the KNP(Kruger National Park) on Friday 21 March 2025. The deceased and an alleged accomplice were reportedly spotted by Section Rangers of the SANParks(South African National Parks) during their patrol duties at around 15h00.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lt-Col Jabu Ndubane, said the two men ran into the bushes when they were spotted by the Rangers and asked to stop. The Rangers are said to have traced the two men and they were spotted again at about 18h15.

“ The two alleged poachers reportedly started shooting towards the Rangers. In response, the Rangers returned fire and it was during this time where one alleged poacher got shot whilst another one got away,” said Lt-Col Ndubane.

Pic: The hunting rifle found after the fatal shooting incident

Medical Personnel and Skukuza SAPS(South African Police Service) were reportedly called to the scene but the injured man died before he could receive assistance.

“ During processing of the scene, a hunting rifle with two ammunition as well as a knife were found in his possession. The paramedics certified him dead at the scene. The circumstances surrounding this incident form part of the investigation by the police. The man has not yet been identified,” said Lt-Col Ndubane.

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Emergency energy equipment handed over to Mpumalanga Health Department By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane Load shedding has meant more than just darkness for nurses at rural clinics in Mpumalanga. It carried the high possibility of vaccines warming in fridges without power, oxygen machines going silent, and babies born by torchlight. Fortunately, that reality took a step toward change with the handover of a critical lifeline in the form of solar power systems, 7 diesel generators, and inventories donated to keep healthcare facilities running when the grid can’t. The energy equipment, officially handed over by Mpumalanga MEC for DPWRT(Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport), Thulasizwe Thomo, was received by Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, at the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market, in Mbombela, on Thursday 21 May 2026. According to MEC Thomo, the energy equipment was donated by the People’s Republic of China through the South African Minister of Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. “ These systems will provide a significant boost to alternative energy solutions for healthcare facilities, ensuring that clinics and hospitals are able to continue delivering essential services during power interruptions and emergencies,” said MEC Thomo. When the power goes out, it isn’t just lights that fail. It’s theatre equipment, incubators, lab machines, and electronic patient records. Staff improvise, but improvising costs time, and in healthcare, time is often the difference between recovery and crisis. The handover reflects a broader push to shield critical services from South Africa’s energy challenges. Healthcare has been prioritised because the stakes are literally life and death.

May 22, 2026