Thaba Nchu – A joint crime combating and educational operation by officers from the Selosesha policing cluster and the Free State agriculture security unit proved successful on Friday, Free State police said.
The operation started in the early hours of Friday at about 4.30am with members from Selosesha police station, Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo, Boithuso, Tweespruit, Excelsior, Selosesha K9, Bloemfontein K9, Bloemfontein stock theft, the home affairs department, and Free State agriculture security unit participating, a statement said.
The main focus of the operation was to check whether farmers adhered to livestock brand marking legislation and educating the farming community about the importance of brand marking and counting livestock on a daily basis.
Despite the rainy conditions members patrolled the kraals and physically inspected livestock for brand marking. Small traders selling livestock around town were also visited and their stock documents verified.
Seven fines under the Stock Theft Act – failure to brand mark livestock – were issued to the value of R3500.
Free State police commissioner Lt-Gen Simon Mpembe applauded the members involved in the joint operation to prevent stock theft and encourage farmers to continue working together with the police in reducing stock theft.
African News Agency (ANA)