POLOKWANE – The four foreign nationals who were arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen livestock and contravening the Immigration Act were denied bail in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday (April 19).

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mamphaswa Seabi said Petros Mbedzi (41), Phenuel Ndou (36), Hulisani Mbedzi (36) and Bokans Mave (36) were arrested at the N1 traffic circle near Nirvana in Polokwane after their Isuzu bakkie loaded with 52 goats and four sheep was stopped by police.

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“Members of the corporate communication and administration services were busy with logistical duties when they spotted the said vehicle with four occupants. They stopped the vehicle and immediately called for police backup while the suspects were interrogated about the origin of the livestock,” Seabi explained.

The suspects failed to produce proper documentation for the livestock and were arrested on the spot while the vehicle with a trailer was seized.

Seabi said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were in the country illegally and the livestock was stolen from Zimbabwe and destined to be sold in Gauteng.

“Members of the corporate communication unit together with the Limpopo Provincial Stock Theft and Vereeniging Stock theft unit conducted a tactical intelligence driven operation in Gauteng and managed to recover 28 stolen goats which were kept at a plot in the Vereeniging policing precinct.”

The operation then continued to Musina where 116 goats, believed to be stolen from Zimbabwe, were also impounded on a farm. “The total value of the livestock is estimated at R240 000,” Seabi said.

He added that the livestock were illegally transported from Zimbabwe and kept at a farm outside Musina for brandmarking and later to be transported to Gauteng.

The four men will next appear on April 29.