THE Empangeni SPCA has formally withdrawn from investigating the Hluhluwe cattle poisoning case and handed over all evidence and statements to the Hluhluwe police.
This is according to SPCA Senior Inspector Roland Fivas, who was on the scene shortly after the alleged poisoning of 28 cattle on the farm of Mr Arnold Raath (47) in May this year.
‘I have documented all initial steps in my investigation diary, but the matter will be investigated by SAPS.
‘The State Veterinary Surgeon collected samples of the liver, kidney and stomach contents of the carcasses, as well as from the grass, ground and water, which must be tested by a SAPS forensic analyst and documented in a forensic analysis report,’ said Fivaz.
‘This is mandatory procedure for every potential criminal investigation and crucial for the State’s case.
‘There is a short window period in which this must be done to obtain accurate results.’
An entire cattle herd died shortly after drinking water from a source on the Kroonvrug farm.
The Mdletshe tribe’s herders were trespassing on the farm at the time after allegedly cutting the fence and ignoring previous warnings from the farmer to stay away from his property.
In what is believed to be a revenge attack, tribe members wielding pangas and knobkieries slaughtered exotic Black Impala.
The Empangeni Public Order Policing Unit and Hluhluwe and Kwamsane police diffused further violence and the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development held a special Imbizo to restore the peace pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Mdletshe tribe at the time asked the MEC about the outcome of a possible land claim.
According to sources, Mr Raath and his family has since left the farm and does not intend returning.
He was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print.
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