Video: Cattle slaughter – warning graphic content

On October 20, Witbank SPCA and Middelburg Stock Theft Unit headed out to Hlalanikahle after hearing of a spot where cows were being slaughtered for their meat.
“A cattle farmer reported missing 14 cattle. He was able to recover them and while searching for them, he came across this place where people had been slaughtering cows,” said Sgt Stoney Steenkamp, Livestock Theft Unit.
“The SPCA and Sgt Steenkamp are already there, they are trying to corner a bull,” said Const Madi Kwane, Livestock Theft Unit.

SPCA and two police members spent the better half of an hour cornering the young bull in a trench before a shot was fired to disable it. The bull managed to get out of the trench and made its way down to the vlei where it stumbled and was shot.

Inspecting the area where the slaughter was taking place, Witbank SPCA and Task Unit found four slaughtered cows, one of which had its placenta and unborn calf torn from its stomach.

There were a number of decayed carcasses in the area, at least 10 or more cattle had been slaughtered, some of the remains appeared to be weeks old.

Two of the missing cattle had to be put down due to their injuries.
“We must put the bull down. The people that slaughter the cows cut the back of the bull’s legs so he can’t run away, he won’t survive like that, there is nothing that can be done to help him except put it out of its misery,” said Insp Mpho Mokoena, Witbank SPCA.

The situation didn’t seem so grim once the SPCA and Task Unit were able to recover three calves that were found at the slaughter site. The calves were impounded and taken to Witbank SPCA.

This is the sixth stock theft case reported at Vosman Police this month. A number of cases go unreported to police as it not only benefits the stock thieves but the public, who are able to score a free meal at no cost.
“Stock farmers don’t realise the importance of branding and tattooing their stock, it is the only means of identifying their stock should they be slaughtered,” said Sgt Steenkamp.

Sgt Steenkamp emphasised that people must report missing stock, whether it be one or 10, and that stock owners must count their livestock on a daily basis and keep and an up-to-date livestock register.

Livestock theft occurs mainly on the plots and farms along the Verena and Zaaihoek Roads, and typically occurs fortnightly, at month end and on a full moon.