By Vida Booysen
A man who was arrested at Glen near Bloemfontein in July last year after stealing 60 sheep was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
NP Thipane (35) left a trail of wrecked boundary fences on 27 July last year in an attempt to flee with the 60 stolen sheep across the N1 towards Brandfort, while local farmers and farm workers were hot on his heels.
“The suspect was arrested thanks to the quick and coordinated response of the farmers and the police, and all 60 sheep were recovered,” says Capt. Lorraine Earle in a statement on behalf of the office of the provincial commissioner of police on his conviction and sentence.
The statement also thanks the investigating officer, WO Mielie du Toit of the Bloemfontein Stock Theft Unit, for his dedicated service, as well as the prosecutor in the case, Amoré Lombard, who ensured justice was done.
The economic impact of livestock thefts in the Free State is devastating and results in direct financial losses of up to R160 million a year, says Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst for Free State Agriculture (FSA). “But only about 70% of farmers in the Free State report stock thefts – so the financial impact is probably much higher.”
FSA regularly encourages farmers to report any crime incidents to the police so that the true extent of rural crime in the province can be announced to all.
