Ward councillor a victim of stock theft

DA ward Councillor, Alwyn van Tonder was the victim of cattle theft in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Van Tonder breeds Dorper sheep at his plot in Dawrskloof. He explains that the incident took place at 1:40am on Saturday morning.

“I was phoned by my neighbour, he informed me that there was a Nissan bakkie parked next to the road loaded with sheep.”

Van Tonder immediately went out to see whether it was his sheep that was loaded on the bakkie. “I found that all my adult sheep were stolen and only the lambs remained,” he said.

He proceeded to get to get into his own Double Cab bakkie and drove to where the Nissan bakkie was parked as he wanted to stop the suspect from leaving.

“When I got out of my vehicle I saw my sheep stuffed into the bakkie like sardines one on top of the other with barely any room for air.”

After coming upon the scene, van Tonder noticed that his neighbour and his worker, as well as a EPR Security officer had already detained the driver of the bakkie with all the sheep.

Eight sheep were found on the bakkie and six were found tied up in the veld. “The thieves cut three fences and carried the sheep over two small holdings to where their bakkie was parked.”

Shortly after the incident, more EPR officers, Community Policing Forum (CPF), as well as police showed up at the scene.

“I was very lucky to find all my sheep as Dwarskloof has been hit hard during the last two months. Several incidents of sheep theft with this same modus operandi has taken place.”

“I also discovered a plastic bag with what appeared to be poison that they brought along to silence the dogs but fortunately they dropped it and could not use it. The police took the poison as evidence, confiscated the Nissan bakkie and arrested the driver.”

“I believe that the other incidents of livestock  in our area can be linked to these criminals.”

“I want to thank my neighbour his workers and the EPR officer for their assistance as without them I would have lost all my sheep.”

Captain Appel Ernst, spokesperson for the Randfontein police, confirmed the incident and said, “Police officers from Krugersdorp Cluster task team assisted in the arrest. All animals were retrieved. Some in the vehicle and other animals tied up in the veld. The suspect arrested will appear in court today.”

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