Leopard populations in most parts of RSA aren't too bad, but they're some of the most educated anywhere in Africa. - Mostly due to the RSA farmers killing them by any and all methods at every opportunity. - Permits are in very short supply as well in omst provinces. KZN for example has 6 permits in total this year..........

You can be pretty sure he paid big money to shoot it and may well not even have known he didn't have a permit.