LIMPOPO – Police in Musina, outside Makhado, have made a major breakthrough in cracking a crime syndicate during a joint operation in the fight against the violation of the Animal Protection and Meat Safety Act.
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According to police spokesperson Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, the operation was up and running until this morning, 9 January, which resulted in the arrest of three suspects between the ages of 30 and 40-years-old.
“The suspects were arrested for violating the animals protection and meat safety Act 40 of 2000, which is aimed to provide measures for promoting meat safety and the safety of animal products; establishing and maintaining essential national standards in respect of abattoirs operations, establishing meat safety schemes and to provide for matters connected therewith,” Ngoepe explained.
During the arrests, the following was confiscated by police:
– Three refrigerators containing three goat carcasses and half a cattle.
– Two refrigerators containing cattle meat.
– Two refrigerators containing 69 goat heads and one cattle carcass.
– One cattle.
– Three goats.
The suspects will appear before the Musina Magistrate’s Court soon.
Provincial Commissioner Lt.General Nneke Ledwaba has commended saps for an excellent job done.
“Slaughtering animals is not illegal in itself, but certain standards have to be met. Slaughtering in an official abattoir, where everything is done according to rules and regulations and is humane when done properly by trained people is one issue. However, doing it in a backyard is another issue that requires men and women in blue to intervene and ensure perpetrators are brought to book,”Ledwaba explained.
He added that these arrests will also have a direct impact in the fight against stock theft in Limpopo.
