In the early hours of 9 October 2020, police officers from the Stock Theft Task Team were alerted about illegal slaughtering of the cows on a farm at Brakfontein and proceeded to the area. On arrival, five men were found and three managed to flee the scene.
Two men aged 40 and 44 were immediately arrested. Police recovered the carcasses, ropes, axes and knives. The suspects were immediately taken to Vryheid police station for processing. They will be charged for stock theft, cruelty to animals, defeating the ends of justice and possession of dangerous weapon. They will appear at the Vryheid Magistrates Court on 12 October 2020.
The suspects’ vehicle was seized since it was used in the commission of crime. It was later discovered that one of the suspects is a senior court official at Pongola and the vehicle belonged to him. An investigation to link the suspects to similar cases is continuing. The livestock owner was not even aware of the theft when the police alerted her and she positively identified her livestock.
“We will continue with such operations to curb stock theft crimes in the province and we will not be deterred by the status of the criminals,” said the Acting KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Major General Thulani Gonya.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
