15 Jan 2025

Stock theft continues to escalate in Kanye and surrounding villages, with the latest cases reported by Sejelo Police Station on Monday.

Acting district anti-stock theft officer, Sub-Inspector Kemmonye Maroleng revealed that four cases involving stolen livestock had been reported since October. The use of rented vehicles by thieves had made tracking them increasingly challenging.

“Most of the cars used are from rental companies, making it difficult to trace the real culprits. That’s their strategy,” said Mr Maroleng during an interview.

He further detailed a recent incident in Gasita, where residents tipped off police about a silver-grey Honda Fit used by thieves to carry two cow carcasses from Lorolwane.

“We were able to recover the carcasses, identify the branding iron, and trace the cows back to their rightful owners,” he explained.

In another case, Kanye residents reported the theft of 10 cows. Acting on the tip-off, the police found the livestock near Kanye Police College.

The animals were returned to their owner, thanks to ear tags containing the owner’s contact details.

“The thieves fled the scene once they realised the police were alerted,” said Mr Maroleng.

Despite recovering the stolen livestock, no arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.

Mr Maroleng commended community members for their vigilance and encouraged small businesses to only purchase meat from registered butcheries.

“Unregulated meat purchases fuel livestock theft. We plead with small enterprises to avoid buying meat that hasn’t been cleared by the police,” he urged. ENDS