Theron Botha (56), of Rynfield, hopes to find the 13 missing cattle which, he believes, walked out of the dairy farm on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, after workers left the gate open.
The 13 cattle are collectively worth about R165 000, with his prized Bonsmara Bull being worth about R35 000. The herd consisted of 10 red Bonsmara, one being the large bull, weighing about a ton, and three black Drakenberger cows.
“I’m renting the dairy farm at the Jatniel Geloofhuis and have a problem with the workers who are employed at the church leaving the gate open,” he said.
”I was constantly worried that the cattle would one day walk out and always had to remind them to keep the gate closed at all times.”
Botha eventually locked the gate with a chain, because the workers would constantly keep leaving it open. The workers then complained and promised to be consistent in keeping the gate closed when they left the premises.
However, on Sunday, his worst fears eventually came true when he discovered that the cattle were missing.
“The cattle must have walked out when the gate was not closed, yet again, when the workers left on Saturday evening. After investigating what happened I asked around if anyone had seen anything and one of the congregants had spotted the cattle walking after she left church,” he said.
According to Botha, the woman said that she saw cattle walking on Benoni Road towards the Kopanong Hotel by themselves.
“I would have been able to maybe try and track them by their tracks and dung, but it rained on Sunday so all of that was swept away. I eventually contacted the police on Monday, when I had no leads, as I was searching by myself,” he added.
When he phoned 10111 to try to obtain the number for the Stock Theft Unit, he was only asked for his contact number and address.
“A police vehicle was sent to the property in the morning, but the officers did not take a statement and only asked for my number as well as where I think the cattle could have gone – I found it strange that no one had given me the number for the Stock Theft Unit,” he said.
Despite that he has been searching relentlessly and has put up posters with the assistance of the Petit Co-op hoping that someone will come forward with information.
“I am hopeful that someone has found them and kept them not knowing who they belong to and will eventually come forward when they know whose cattle they are. I am willing to give a reward,” he concluded.
If you have any information with the whereabouts of the cattle, contact Botha on 072 605 2939.
