Within a week of the Stock Theft Operations conducted in the hard hit policing areas around the province, stock worth over R2 million was recovered and 11 suspects arrested. The recoveries include 478 sheep, 180 goats, 80 cattle and 7 horses.
The operation started on the 23 September 2018 and include the following areas Mthatha, Sulenkama, Qumbu, Tsolo, Katkop, Maluti, Bizana and Flagstaff.
The operations are resultant from continuous stock thefts at targeted hot spots and locations as they have been identified as the Top 10 stations in the country that contributed to recent Crime Statistics.
•On the first day of the operation 26 cattle, 39 goats, 194 sheep and one horse were recovered at the grazing veld and two suspects were arrested. Police also received information about strayed cattle at Qumbu and 14 cattle were recovered.
•Nine cattle were recovered straying at Tsolo (5) and Qumbu (4), all were positively identified by the lawful owners. The cattle were impounded Qumbu municipality and they will be handed to the lawful owners on the last day of operation.
•Two suspects were arrested following the theft of 5 sheep at Langeni Locality. It is alleged that whilst the complainant was away from home the community of Langeni took 5 sheep and slaughtered them at the complainant’s residence and even cooked pap to eat with the meat. The suspects then divided the meat and were found in possession of the meat at their residences.
•13 cattle which were stolen in Libode were recovered at Tsolo even before the case was opened and were handed over to the lawful owners. Six cattle were also recovered at Gura locality in Qumbu and pounded in Qumbu Municipal Pound.
•Mbizana Stock Theft operation focused at Ndlovu and Mathwebu areas in Mbizana and thirteen cattle were recovered in total.
•69 sheep were recovered in Debeza Locality which were reported stolen the previous night at Tsolo SAPS. The stock was handed over to the lawful owner.
•Operation conducted at Nontyankashe A/A led to the recovery of five cattle, 30 sheep and one horse.
SAPS call on stock owners and/or farmers to count their stock regularly and immediately report any missing stock. “It is important that stock owners and/or farmers brand their livestock. This becomes very crucial in identifying stock and for court proceedings. It is also important that farmers comply with the Stock Theft Act and ensure that the necessary documentation is issued when stock is sold and transported. These documents can be obtained from local police stations”, said Lt Col Sello Rute, Eastern Cape Provincial Stock Theft Unit and Endangered Species Commander.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga applauded the members for the good results thus far. “Stock Theft remains a concern for SAPS, as the livestock represent the livelihood of many citizens in the province. Various operations will continue throughout the province and all the stock owners are advised to always cooperate with the police during these operations. Police will also visit homesteads holding initiation traditional ceremonies to check if stolen stock is not slaughtered at these ceremonies”, she said.
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