Suspected stock thieves nabbed in Louis Trichardt, Mokopane
Four stock theft suspects were arrested and 17 head of cattle recovered during ongoing joint police operations conducted in the in the Mahweleregeng and Makhado clusters.
LIMPOPO – These operations were conducted between the R101 and N1 roads in and around the Mokopane and Louis Trichardt areas and are headed by various Crime Intelligence Units, Stock Theft Units, Task Team Units and the K9 Unit together with the Stations Visible Policing Members.
In a statement Police Spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe said one suspect was arrested in the Mahwelereng Cluster and the other three were arrested in the Makhado Cluster.
During the Mahwelereng operation one suspect was arrested and seven head of cattle worth R52 000 were recovered. This after a double cab bakkie, towing a trailer along the R101 road was stopped. A second suspect manage to evade arrest, added Ngoepe.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the cattle were stolen at Makgodu in the Moletjie area under the Seshego Cluster.
In the Makhado Cluster, three suspects, aged between 41 and 42, were arrested and 10 head of cattle worth around R100 000 recovered. Ngoepe explained that task team followed up on information received about suspects selling cattle in the area, and stopped the truck the suspects were travelling in on the N1 road near Elim. These suspects were then arrested.
The 55-year-old suspect, arrested in Mahwelereng appeared in the Mokerong Magistrate’s Court on a charge of possession of suspected stolen live stock and was denied bail. The case was postponed to today (Thursday, 1 August). The three suspects arrested in Louis Trichardt also appeared in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of suspected stolen live stock, and were all denied bail. Their cases were postponed to 7 August for bail application and for further police investigations.
The unidentified cattle have since been impounded at the Mokopane SPCA. Those who have been a victim of stock theft and are in possession of the right documents that comprises of the brand marking of these cattle are advised to approach the SPCA.
The Limpopo Police Commissioner Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba, has applauded the task teams for their swift reactions which led to these arrests and recoveries. He further encouraged stock owners to comply with the Stock Theft Act and urged the public to continue working with the police to fight stock theft crime.
