AFTER he was tormented by stock thieves for more than a year, Pastor Piet Tlhabanyane finally caught them red-handed on Thursday, 10 November.
The emerging farmer from Mahikeng, North West, told Daily Sun they were bust with 20 cattle and 23 calves early in the morning.
He said thugs previously slaughtered two of his cattle.
He said he believed the arrest was a breakthrough for fellow farmers in the area as they had been suffering for three years.
“I have been operating for over a year. I have beefed up security and am collaborating with other farmers,” he said.
Piet said every morning and evening, he counted his animals and locked them up. He said on Thursday, he noticed some were missing.
“It appears the suspects entered the farm by breaking the locks of the main gate. Our preliminary investigation indicates they began loading the cattle at around 7pm the previous night,” he said.
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North West community safety MEC Sello Lehari said seven suspects were arrested after the animals were found loaded onto a truck and a trailer being towed by a Land Cruiser.
“A total of 47 suspected stolen cattle with an estimated value of R500 000 were recovered,” he said.
Lehari said Piet was called by his cattle herder while the theft was underway.
“They alerted the police and seven suspects, aged between 25 and 49, were arrested with two trucks loaded with cattle.”
The MEC said the community played a big role in busting thugs. They are due to appear in the Mmbatho Magistrates Court today on a charge of stock theft.
