The suspects allegedly stole five Beefmaster cattle from Manjoh Ranch, in Holgatefontein, Nigel, chasing the cattle all the way to Endicott where they were hacked and slaughtered.
CPI private investigator Handro Strydom says they were observing the area and noticed a suspicious-looking blue VW Caddy, at about 2am.
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“We could hear the cattle lowing while being hacked to death,” he says.
At 3am, Strydom and his colleagues noticed a white Toyota Quantum which turned onto a gravel road and disappeared into the bush.
After approximately 30 minutes the CPI investigators saw the Caddy and Quantum leaving the scene and followed them to Largo, where the six suspects were arrested.
Amanda Greybe, Springs police spokesman, says the suspects, aged between 26 and 54, were taken to the Nigel Police Station where they will remain until their first court appearance.
“We believe they suspected they were being watched as all six of them left the scene,” she says.
Although only two of the cattle were already cut up, three were hacked and their front and hind quarters were removed.
Read: Cattle hacked to death on Vischkuil farm
Tony da Costa, one of the owners of the cattle, says he has lost 130 cows and bulls over the past 17 months.
“We suspect it is the same group of perpetrators who target cattle in the area,” he says.
Manjoh Ranch has 24-hour security, but this hasn’t deterred the thieves.
“On December 8 five cows and two bulls were hacked and slaughtered,” says da Costa.
Farmer Jan van Heerden says over the past year his farm was targeted seven times.
“I don’t count the amount of cattle slaughtered as it will drive me crazy,” he says.
He claims authorities don’t take stock theft in Springs, Delmas, Devon and Nigel seriously.
“I want the highest authorities to get involved as we don’t get any feedback on arrests or breakthroughs in the cases,” says van Heerden.
The suspects were charged with theft, possession of stolen property and animal cruelty.
Warning: Graphic image
