14 Jun 2017

Sehithwa police have arrested  seven suspects in connection with different stock theft incidents that took place at the nearby cattle-posts over the weekend.

Station commander, Superintendent Elias Malope confirmed in an interview that the first incident happened at Rahua cattle-post and involves four men aged between 30 and 35 who were caught slaughtering cattle in the bush.

He said the police acted on a tip off by someone who saw the suspects and officers rushed to the scene, but found nothing.

The police traced the vehicle used and found it off loading meat in one of the butcheries in the village.

Superintendent Malope further said that after questioning the owner of the butcher, they went back to the scene and found other suspects slaughtering another beast allegedly for the same butcher.

While investigations continue, police have closed the butchery and all the four suspects including the  butcher are expected to appear before Sehithwa customary court to answer for an offence of stock theft.

The second incident took place at Machaba cattle post along Maun/Ghanzi road, where three men aged 23, 26 and 29  were caught with ten goats alleged to be stolen.

Superintendent Malope said they received a tip off  from an informer, who was suspicious when he saw the goats tied to trees in the bush.

The police went to the scene and indeed found the goats tied while one had already been killed.

Superintendent Malope said they managed to arrest all the suspects and that the stolen goats were identified by the owners.

The suspects appeared before Sehithwa Customary Court on June 13 and the case will continue on June 22.

The police chief decried escalating stock theft cases in his policing area, adding that it was disturbing because often livestock owners  forgive the suspects and ‘this exacerbates the situation’.

Superintendent Malope said efforts had been made through kgotla meetings to advise farmers to look after their livestock and also brand them for easy identification during theft. ENDS