MPUMALANGA – A 26-year-old suspect has been arrested for stock theft in Lothair following a coordinated early morning law enforcement operation that resulted in the recovery of five head of suspected stolen cattle.
According to a spokesperson for the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit, the arrest was executed at approximately 05:45 on Monday, 13 July 2026. Acting on credible intelligence regarding a Toyota Hilux towing a trailer loaded with cattle, police successfully intercepted the vehicle on the Lothair–Ermelo Road. Upon confrontation, the two occupants of the vehicle failed to provide valid proof of ownership for the five cattle.
Following the interception, the vehicle was transported to the Lothair South African Police Service (SAPS) station for processing. During this procedure, one of the suspects fled the scene and escaped into a nearby plantation. Despite an extensive and active search operation utilizing aerial drones and tracking dogs, the second suspect remains at large.
Authorities have successfully seized the Toyota Hilux, the attached trailer, and the five head of cattle as evidence. The arrested 26-year-old is expected to appear shortly before the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court to face formal charges of stock theft.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the case has been officially handed over to the specialized Stock Theft Unit for further investigation and ongoing manhunt efforts.
