GRASKOP – Foresters are on full-scale alert as timber-related violence rapidly escalated across the Lowveld following a shootout in a plantation recently.
In what is believed to be an attack in retaliation for the shooting of suspected timber thieves recently, a Bell Logger worth R650 00 was set alight by a gang of suspects.
“Despite the fact that the Bell’s operator’s life was in danger, the local police refused to come out to the scene,” said Mr Pieter Knipschild, chairperson of the Lowveld Timber Theft Forum.
The incident occurred at approximately 18:45 on Thursday evening at the Ramanas Farm. This was the day after the shootout occurred where one suspected thief was shot and killed and four others wounded. Mr Anker McDonald, a roleplayer in the industry, said that a white bakkie with a number of unknown men arrived at the farm and threatened the Bell operator. “The man managed to escape and the suspects set the machine alight and raced away.”
McDonald phoned the Graskop police for assistance but they told him that they don’t have a vehicle. “The officer I spoke to refused to identify himself. He said that they only have one vehicle with worn tyres but they can’t come out because they are only three members on duty.”
McDonald then in vain attempted to get hold of the station commander.
“Because of the shooting incident the previous night, which we believe was an ambush set up by these suspects, I could not send our security to the scene of the burning Logger,” explained McDonald. He added that he did not want to send his men into another ambush and they did not want to go out without police escorts.
Knipschild claimed that the police officers also refused to accompany McDonald to the scene in his own vehicle.
“The tragedy is that this Bell does not even belong to a large forestry company but to an upcoming previously disadvantaged man. He does not have the money to replace that Logger and is contemplating closing down his business. This will mean a loss of income to several employees and their families.”
He added that if the police had responded there could have been less damage to the machine and that evidence would not have been lost due to the rain that night.
The incident was reported to provincial commander, Gen Thulani Ntobela. He has been very accommodating in fighting these timber related crimes.
Mr Danie Coetser, chairman of KLCBT Business Division, confirmed that Ntobela had appointed an acting commander and that a meeting with the Graskop’s station commander had been arranged to get answers on the allegations against the Graskop station.
A meeting was also set up with the forestry roleplayers for Friday December 6 to structure proper working relations between the police and these roleplayers.
“Just to explain my position and role in this matter: I am the chairman of the Business Division of KLCBT and inter alia responsible for SAPS/ security matters that have an influence on safety and security in our area of responsibility. In this specific instance I am merely utilizing the privileged position I have through KLCBT to be able to communicate directly to the PC’s office on matters that are deemed of urgency and high importance. In terms of Friday’s meeting I am just coordinating the meeting, but will step aside once the introduction part has been completed for the foresters to then discuss matters directly with the police.”
Ntobela assured Lowvelder that despite him being extremely busy at the moment, he takes these allegations seriously and that is why he has appointed someone to act on his behalf.
At the time of going to print Lowvelder was informed that the police had arranged a huge sting operation where they went to all the suspicious timber depots identified by the forestry roleplayers. Lowvelder will report on this shortly.
