Police in KwaZulu-Natal’s Bulwer district have nabbed more livestock thieves, who reportedly tried using false documentation to try to deceive the officers.
By Lloyd Phillips, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
In late August, police in KwaZulu-Natal’s Bulwer district reportedly captured two alleged stock thieves transporting a bakkie-load of 51 stolen goats. The suspects could not prove ownership of the goats. The very next day, two more individuals were arrested for allegedly trying to bribe the Bulwer Police Station’s commander to release the allegedly stolen goats and the bakkie they were transported in.
In the early hours of Saturday morning this past weekend, Bulwer’s hawk-eyed police reportedly captured two more alleged stock thieves.
Also read: Bulwer police make unexpected double-bust for suspected stolen goats
Falsified Information
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, a provincial spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal police, said that in this latest incident, officers of the Bulwer South African Police Service (SAPS) Tracing Team intercepted a bakkie driving towards the province’s capital city, Pietermaritzburg.
“Upon searching the vehicle, police officers found that it was carrying 20 goats and 11 sheep. The [two] occupants of the vehicle produced documentation purporting to authorise the transportation of the livestock.
“A quick verification of the documents revealed that the information therein was falsified. The person listed as the seller [of the goats and sheep] denied any knowledge or involvement in the alleged sale.”
The two suspects, foreign nationals aged 36 and 40, were immediately arrested.
Magwaza said they will appear before the Hlanganani Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 27 October for, at this stage, allegedly being in possession of stolen livestock.
