24 Jun 2021

Tonota Police Station’s holding kraal for stolen livestock has registered more animal numbers.

The kraal started with 38 cattle and they increased to 50 due to offsprings while goats increased from 90 to 130. 

Station commander, Superintendent Oteng Ngada, explained in an interview that the number of sheep also increased from 20 to 37. 

Superintendent Ngada said the  livestock dated as far as 2014 and all the cases were still pending before courts of law. 

He said the exhibits (cattle, goats and sheep) continued to multiply on yearly basis, adding that the kraal  also held livestock from Matsiloje and Gerald Estate. 

He explained that should the holding capacity be threatened because of the number of off-springs; they could off load to Tatitown Police Station holding kraal in Marapong. 

Superintendent Ngada explained that some of the exhibits had died whilst in police custody, but their cases still continued because evidence included photographs and skins hides. 

He said cases of livestock theft were of great concern in his area of jurisdiction, but blamed cattle owners of putting all the burden on their herdsmen.

“Herdsmen cannot brand the offspring leading to them being vulnerable to theft as they cannot be identified by their owners,” she said. 

He said the multiplication of animals came with great costs for the police since the organisation had to buy supplements and medication. 

He urged the livestock owners to pay attention to how their livestock was taken care of as well as ensuring that the offsprings were branded as soon as possible. 

He explained that the exhibits were found in possession of people who could not account for them by providing legal documentation of ownership.

Superintendent Ngada said there were 21 registered cases registered before the magistrate courts but the main challenge was delay in disposing these cases due to several reasons. 

“Sometimes suspects change lawyers or the substantive presiding officer is transferred,” he added. 

However, he said some cases were withdrawn by the complainants, something which he condemned because withdrawal of such cases contributed to livestock theft.

Meanwhile, Inspector Samson Maphala from the Anti Stock Theft Unit underscored the dangers of withdrawing livestock cases, which were the backbone of the livelihood of the rural people.

Inspector Maphala advised complainants to allow the courts to do their work and if evidence was available, convict the suspects or discharge them accordingly.

He said the police suspected that the accused and the complainant had connived with an agreement that the accused would be compensated upon withdrawing the case. 

However, Inspector Maphala said the success rate of conviction in their livestock cases stood at 99 per cent with only one case that was dismissed logistically.

He also indicated that cases were delayed because of several reasons that included the use of one lawyer by many accused persons whilst at the same time the lawyer was also engaged with other matters in other courts across the country.

Inspector Maphala urged Batswana to look after their livestock and keep their ownership documentation safe and verify that any offspring was branded. Ends