A TAVERN owner and six accomplices have been bust with 15 dead sheep and four live ones.
This comes after a total of 69 sheep were reported stolen on two farms on Monday, 12 December in Hennenman, Free State.
Captain Steven Thakeng said cops received information about the sheep that were being cut into pieces at the back of a tavern in Bailey Street in Reitzpark, Welkom.
During the search in and outside the tavern, the police found a white Hyundai bakkie and a grey Ford Ranger with 15 sheep carcasses. The four sheep that were still alive were seized.
“The cops caught the suspects as they were cutting the sheep with a butchery saw. The owner of the stolen sheep was called to the scene and he was able to identify the sheep as his property. The seized animals were handed to him,” said Thakeng.
The suspects, aged between 37 and 53, were arrested for possession of suspected stolen livestock.
Lejweleputswa cluster commander Major General Lerato Molale thanked the residents of Reitzpark for trusting the police with the information that led to the arrests and seizure.
Free State anti-stock theft chairman Mahlomola Maine said the high rate of stock theft in the province has a negative impact on agriculture.
“Our province relies on agriculture for economic development. We call for the police to prioritise stock theft cases.
“There is a growing business of stock theft between Mzansi and neighbouring countries,” said Maine.
