Police warned farmers and cattle owners to brand or tattoo their livestock as theft of farm animals is a continuous problem in Limpopo.
This after the Specialised Stock Theft Unit arrested three suspects for being in possession of suspected stolen cattle along the R71 Tzaneen road on Tuesday.
Mienkie Ramakgoakgoa of the Provincial Police Communications Centre indicated the arrests were made after Police received a tip-off from the community.
Police reacted swiftly and traced the vehicle close to Mall of the North and pulled it off the road. A Ford Ranger with trailer and seven cattle were confiscated as the suspects failed to produce necessary documents of the origin of the cattle, according to Ramakgokgoa.
The suspects are aged between 26 and 41 and expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court soon.
Provincial Police Communications Head, Motlafela Mojapelo indicated that the issue of stock theft has decreased over the past few months. “This is a result of communities reporting suspicious vehicles with live stock in transit, helping the Police to follow-up quickly and to make successful arrests,” he said.
He added that Matlala was the hotspot in this regard with other areas where stock theft is reported regularly being Lebowakgomo, Senwabarwana and Mankweng. In most areas cattle are stolen except for Lebowakgomo where goats are also on suspects’ wish list.
Mojapelo again warned livestock owners to clearly brand their animals in order to identify them when stolen. He also urged communities to continue providing the Police with information that might lead to the arrest of suspects.
Story: RC Myburgh
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