Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife achieves historic low in rhino poaching

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has reached a remarkable milestone with zero rhino poaching incidents in KwaZulu-Natal for January 2026. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlifehas achieved a historic milestone with zerorhino poaching incidentsrecorded in KwaZulu-Natal provincial parks in January 2026. KZN Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) MEC Musa Zondi said this demonstrated that the province is “not merely participating in conservation success, but living in it,” marks a decade-best.

The trend is in line with recent poaching stats. According to stats released in February by Environment Minister Willie Aucamp, there was 97 rhinos poached in KZN in 2025, a decline from 232 killed in 2024. MEC Zondi highlighted that the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park’s intensive dehorning initiatives have resulted in this significant reduction in poaching activities.

The positive trajectory comes as the entity actively sheds its past reputation for instability and corruption to embrace a new era. Three years ago, the picture for Ezemvelo was dire. It faced severe governance crises, management instability, and failing public trust as wildlife, most notably lions, escaped from reserves, terrorising surrounding communities.

[paywall]

CEO Sihle Mkhize did not mince words during a media briefing, noting: “You only rebuild when there has been a challenge or a problem.” He admitted that “it’s an open secret that the organisation has faced some serious challenges, including governance challenges and management instability” and that the institution’s infrastructure was “almost collapsing”. To address these systemic issues, he said Ezemvelo implemented a rigorous turnaround strategy starting with governance and management stability.

[/paywall]