26 Jan 2017

Kgosi Gaolatlhe Kgosigaenyadiwe of Nxaraga village has expressed disappointment at some people who withdraw stock theft cases claiming that they will resolve them at home.

He said in an interview that the practice is worrisome as it frustrates their effort to combat crime in the village which is on the rise. 

He revealed that his kgotla was overwhelmed with high number of stock theft cases noting that last year more than 10 cases were recorded and six had been withdrawn as the complainants forgave the culprits.

Kgosi Kgosigaenyadiwe said most of the time complainants become hostile and fail to appear on the set date and when traced they would say they had withdrawn the case because they are related to the culprits.

He wished the government could discourage withdrawal of stock theft cases so that the law could take its course and the culprits learn a lesson.

He said the practice exacerbates crime situation in the village as it has been realised that some locals connive with some butchery owners to steal livestock.

Kgosi also called for an intensive inspection of butcheries.

He said this week the police managed to arrest some suspects who were found driving a vehicle loaded with a lot of meat.

He said the suspected vehicle was coming from the bush.

He noted that lack of transport to do effective patrols by police officers remains a serious challenge as most of the time they act on tip off.

“Our officers are doing their best to fight crime but thieves take advantage of lack of transport hence they kill livestock along the river, islands and places which they know the officers could not reach,” he added.

For his part, the Village Development Committee chairperson, Mr Jeffry Manja said it is a pity that even if police officers could arrest culprits there is no cell in the village.

He said construction of a cell has become a priority in their developmental plan noting that they would consider constructing it through Ipelegeng programme. BOPA