Sixteen chainsaws stolen in Sabie
The men sped off in the direction of Kaapsehoop with their victim's cell phone which was still in the vehicle.
SABIE – Barely two months after 16 chainsaws were stolen at gunpoint in the Hendriksdal area, GDH Harvesting was targeted again on January 15. The men sped off in the direction of Kaapsehoop with their victim’s cell phone which was still in the vehicle.
According to Mr Harry Robinson, director of GDH, six armed men overpowered his workers in the plantation and stole the chainsaws after shots were fired at his men. “The police did not even go to the scene to take a statement,” Robinson said. He had to go to the Sabie Police Station the next day to do so. He calls this a “forestry nightmare”. In December five armed men attacked 30 GDH workers and stole chainsaws to the value of R96 000 in the same area. Lowvelder spoke to Ms Joey Lascelles, spokesman for the Lowveld Timber Theft Forum earlier this month, who says they are fed up with the way in which these cases are being handled. Members of the timber community are dissatisfied by this lack of attention.
“The forum will, however, continue to engage with the local police stations through regular meetings. We will also continue to train and educate their officers on crime affecting the industry and the importance of forestry in creating job opportunities and a livelihood for many Mpumalanga residents,” said Lascelles.
Lowvelder contacted the Sabie Police Station, but had received no comment at the time of going to print.
