By Lloyd Phillips
Law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape recently had their hands full with tracking down two tractors and nearly 200 sheep stolen in two separate incidents.
At least two suspects were reportedly arrested in KwaZulu-Natal last week after allegedly attempting to steal a second tractor belonging to the KZN Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZN DARD).
A statement by the department says one of the suspects is a departmental employee based at the Inkosi Owen Sitole College of Agriculture in the province’s Empangeni district. This employee, who has not yet been named, allegedly coordinated the thefts and recruited one or more accomplices to carry them out.
Vusi Khumalo, a departmental spokesperson, tells African Farming small-scale farmers at two different locations in the uMfolozi Local Municipality’s Mbonambi district had initially hired the tractors to carry out fieldwork for them. The departmental official and his/her accomplices allegedly manipulated these arrangements to steal the tractors.
The KZN DARD statement adds that a senior departmental official within the King Cetshwayo District Municipality, within which uMfolozi Local Municipality lies, caught wind of the thefts and reported them to local traffic police.
“This resulted in the interception of one of the tractors in the adjoining Sokhulu area. This tractor was driven by a male person suspected to be an accomplice of the subsequently arrested department official.”
Khumalo explains that further investigations led to the recovery of the second stolen tractor at a nearby location.
The statement adds that the suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of theft.
Hidden in a donga
Meanwhile, police in the Eastern Cape’s rural Qumbu district have reportedly opened cases of attempted murder and of robbery of livestock after armed stock thieves attacked a homestead there at about 9 pm on Saturday night.
Captain Welile Matyolo, a police spokesperson, says although details of the incident are still sparse at this stage, what is currently known is the thieves targeted the nearly 200 sheep that were kraaled for safety adjacent to the homestead.
“As the thieves began driving the sheep away on foot, they shot through the house’s window and a 33-year-old woman was hit on her thigh. She was taken to a nearby clinic and then to hospital where she is currently recovering,” Matyolo continues.
He adds that with the assistance of information from sources within the district, on Sunday police investigators were led to the neighbouring Bhelekence area. There they discovered the sheep hidden in a steep donga near a local river. A total of 145 sheep were still alive and 24 were found dead.
“No one has been arrested yet and investigations are ongoing. Police are appealing to anyone who might have information about this incident to contact any nearest police station, or the commander of Qumbu’s police detectives, detective captain Mteteleli Nongcawula, at 071 037 1863.”
“Callers may remain anonymous.”
Also read:
Police arrest cattle thieves in Limpopo
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Alleged cattle thieves in court after branding allegedly leads to owner
