By Vida Booysen
A branding found by police on a cattle carcass led to the arrest of two suspected cattle thieves in the North West who appeared in court on a charge of possession of a stolen cattle.
Members of the Tshidilamolomo police station in the northern North West arrested Tshegofatso Jacob Mekgwe (35) and Mohau Eric Plaatjie (23) on Sunday, 19 January.
The police followed up on information that led them to a house where the two men were allegedly caught red-handed with a cattle carcass.
The police then saw a branding on the carcass and determined the owner of the animal was believed to be one of the suspect’s employer.
The two men appeared in the Mahikeng Magistrate’s Court on 21 and 22 January. They were granted bail of R1 500 each and are due to appear in court again on Tuesday 18 March.
Maj. Gen. Patrick Asaneng, acting provincial police commissioner, commended the police officers involved for their swift action that led to the seizure of the carcass and the arrest of the men.
He encouraged all livestock owners to brand their animals as this greatly assists the police in their task of successfully prosecuting offenders and recovering stolen livestock.