Five suspected rhino poachers were killed on Saturday night following a shootout with Police in KwaZulu-Natal, authorities said on Sunday, May 10.
Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda said officers launched a stop-and-search operation in the Hluhluwe area after receiving intelligence that suspected poachers would be travelling along the R618 road near a game reserve.
According to Police, the suspects opened fire after arriving at a police roadblock, triggering a shootout in which five suspects were fatally wounded. Officers recovered a hunting rifle fitted with a silencer and two pistols at the scene. No police personnel were injured.
The incident occurred near Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, one of South Africa’s most important rhino conservation areas. The park has played a significant role in restoring the southern white rhino population but continues to face persistent poaching threats.
Earlier this year, South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment reported a 16 per cent year-on-year decline in rhino poaching cases in 2025, signalling progress in efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. In KwaZulu-Natal alone, recorded rhino poaching incidents reportedly fell from 232 cases in 2024 to 97 cases in 2025.