Stock theft on the rise in Nkomazi

Cattle farmers in the province have voiced their outrage and expressed concerns about their cows being illegally slaughtered by thieves in their
villages without their consent.

According to the devastated cattle farmers, this illegal cow slaughtering has been going on for some months now, and the police have made no attempts to investigate or arrest suspects.

ALSO READ: Department holds anti-stock theft operation

They alleged that their cows were slaughtered alongside some roads. Some of the slaughtered cows were pregnant and carrying calves, they said.
Sibusiso Masilela, a cattle farmer who has also been farming poultry for almost five years, said, “This has been going on for over two months now.

On Monday, eight more cows were discovered slaughtered alongside the road in Masibekela. So far, more than 30 cattle have been slaughtered without our
permission,” Masilela said.

ALSO READ: Suspects sought for stock theft

Community safety, security and liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe said there is a unit within the SAPS that deals with this issue, and advised communities to register criminal cases with the police for assistance.

He argued that the police had in the past made arrests in other areas where stock theft was a problem.