16 Dec 2021

Sehithwa police have arrested two men who were found in possession of 24 suspected stolen cattle on December 14.

Station commander, Superintendent Nshaki Mabophiwa said the suspects, aged 27 and 42, were arrested at Kandatunvari settlement, some 42km west of Toteng.

He noted that the two were arrested following a tip off from some members of the community.

The suspects, he said, had separate kraals, with the 27-year-old found in possession of 13 cattle and five calves, while the other had three cattle and three calves, for which they could not prove ownership.

Superintendent, Mabophiwa also said unfortunately, all the calves were not branded.

He appealed to the farming community in his policing area to visit the police station between 0630 hours and 0830 hours, to help identify the animals.

The police chief decried the high incidence of stock theft in his policing area, noting that last year, they registered 95 cases, involving 20 goats, 69 cattle, five horses and one donkey.

This year, he said they had already recorded 94 incidents.

He urged members of the community to join forces with the police to curb stock theft, which he said seemed to be rewarding job for perpetrators.

Superintendent, Mabophiwa noted that criminals seemed to have found a lucrative market in Maun as most of their investigations led them to some local butcheries, which acquired meat without following proper procedures.

He said recently, they stopped two vehicles that were loaded with ready-for market carcasses and heading to Maun and the suspects could not account for them.

He said in another incident, they found some cattle heads and skins hidden in the bush and once again investigations led them to Maun.

He acknowledged the majority of the communities in his policing area depended on farming for survival and t kept hundreds of herds, which made it difficult for owners to immediately know when some were missing.

This, he said, created fertile hunting ground for the rustlers, who targeted such farmers.

He also accused those who bought meat in the streets, without questioning its origins, of encouraging stock theft.

Superintendent Mabophiwa also urged communities to set up or revive stock theft prevention committees in their villages to work hand in hand with police, which might ultimately lead to reduction in animal rustling. ENDS