Arrests made and 171 livestock recovered in KZN
During the past week, KwaZulu-Natal Stock Theft units conducted various operations to arrest stock thieves, recover stolen stock and to make sure that livestock owners have marked their stock. The week-long operation was conducted from 18 to 25 September 2015 across the province in areas such as Nkandla, Melmoth, KwaMsane, Maphumulo, Taylors Halt, Muden, Msinga, Estcourt, Amangwe Plessislaer, Bergville, Nquthu and Upper Tugela.
A total of 25 suspects were arrested for stock theft, illegal hunting and failing to comply with the Animal Identification Act. During these operations 171 animals were recovered including cattle, goats, sheep and horses.
The suspects appeared in various Magistrates’ Courts in the province.
All marked livestock will be returned to their lawful owners whilst others are held in pounds for safekeeping and further investigation.
The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the Stock Theft units in KwaZulu-Natal for the arrests and recoveries.
“We urge all the livestock owners to ensure that they comply with the Animal Identification Act since it assists in reducing the stock theft in the province. We still find that in most cases stock wander off and are lost as they are left unattended in grazing fields”, she said.
