07 May 2020

Some alleged thieves in Morwamosu in the Mabutsane Sub-district took advantage of low movement of people at the cattleposts to advance their criminal acts.

In an interview, Mabutsane police station commander, Superintendent Bajaki Lehuma, said three weeks ago, they arrested twin brothers who failed to account for four calves they had.

“Two of the four calves had the suspects'  brand while the other two had different brands. We traced the brands that led us to two other men in Khakhea and on further investigations, it emerged that the four were a syndicate that stole livestock and exchanged it to thwart efforts of tracing it,” he said.

In another stock theft case in Morwamosu, Supt. Lehuma indicated that they also arrested a 19-year-old young man after he stole a cow and branded it with his sister’s brand.

“Initially we interrogated the sister as the brand owner, but she indicated to us that her brother was the likely perpetrator and on following her suggestion it emerged she was right,” he said.

He said all the five suspects would appear before the magistrate court upon lifting of an extreme social distancing regulation. Supt. Lehuma said although stock theft had been an issue in his area even before lockdown, the crime seemed to have increased ever since people were confined to their homes.

He advised farmers to always brand their livestock as early as possible since it was difficult to prove ownership if an animal was found with only the suspect’s brand and earmarks.

Still in Morwamosu, Supt. Lehuma said they arrested two men with small packets suspected to be dagga and the two were released while the substance was taken for lab testing. ends