POLOKWANE – Members of The Stock Theft Unit of the South African Police Service in Limpopo have over the past weekend arrested a total number of eight (08) suspects aged between 27 and 41, for poaching and possession of suspected stolen meat. The arrests were effected during joint operations in identified areas.
Two of the suspects were apprehended In the early hours of Sunday morning, 17 November 2019 at about 03h00 in Musina, after they were found in possession of three(03) carcasses of heavily pregnant Bonsmara cows with the estimated value of R60 000.
The arrests were effected during an operation conducted by Musina Stock Theft Unit and the local farmers. The team followed information to a farm in the outskirts of Musina and recovered the slaughtered animals loaded inside a white Toyota Quatum. The two suspects aged 27 and 35, will appear in the Musina Magistrates court on Tuesday 19 November 2019, facing charges of stock theft and possession of stolen meat.
Meanwhile the Police in Lephalale arrested three suspects aged 29, 30 and 33, for illegal hunting following an incident that occurred on 16 June 2019 at about 09h30, at one of the local game reserves. The three suspects who were all employed at the game reserve at the time, are allegedly responsible for killing a rhino and cutting its horns. The rhino carcass was later discovered by patrolling officers. The horns were valued at R75 000.
The suspects will appear in Lephalale magistrate court soon, facing charges of Illegal hunting and conspiracy to poach.
In Tshilwavhusikhu outside Makhado, three suspects aged between 28 and 41, were arrested on Friday 15 November 2019 for stock theft after two goats were stolen at Tshiozwi Village. The Police followed information immediately after the owner reported the incident. Investigations led to the arrest of the herd boy who allegedly sold the goats to two men around the village. The suspects were then traced and the two goats were found inside one of the suspect’s kraal. After positive identification by the owner, they were handed back.
The suspects will appear in the Tshilwavhusiku magistrate’s court soon.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba, has commended the stock theft unit members for their endless efforts to curb incidents of stock theft in the province. The interventions that were initiated by members of this Unit in collaboration with the farming communities to brand their livestock and to conduct joint operations, have already started bearing positive results and must therefore cover all the affected areas, concluded General Ledwaba.
Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing information on Stock Theft and crime in general to the SAPS by either downloading the MySAPS App or by calling the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111. Callers may remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strictest confidence.
Source: South African Police Service