DURBAN - Police Minister Bheki Cele has revealed that more than 26 000 heads of livestock were stolen in KwaZulu-Natal over the last three financial years.
Cele was responding to a parliamentary written question by the EFF’s Mothusi Montwedi who had asked Cele about the total number of stolen livestock that had been recovered, returned to their owners and remained with the police in the past three financial years.
Cele said 26 573 livestock were recovered in KZN, of which 26 476 were returned to their owners and 97 remained with the police.
KZN had the most number of livestock recovered, followed by Limpopo with 10 758 and Mpumalanga with 10 166.
Some of the livestock also remained with the police in the Eastern Cape (48), North West (45) and the Northern Cape (three).
However, all stolen livestock was returned in the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.
Earlier this week, police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said the Kokstad Stock Theft Unit, assisted by the Kokstad K9 Unit, embarked on an operation at Bizana in the Eastern Cape. The team was following up on information about sheep that were stolen in Kokstad this month.
“Police proceeded to Emabhusheni area in Bizana where 27 sheep were recovered. Police also recovered two sheep that were already slaughtered.
“The stolen sheep were found in the suspect's yard. It was established that the sheep were stolen in Kokstad and Swartburg. The 35-year-old suspect was placed under arrest for stock theft,” Mbele said.
She said the suspect would be profiled to check if he was linked to other cases reported in the Harry Gwala District and surrounding areas. She said more arrests were expected as the investigation unfolded.
Daily News