The police, in collaboration with officials from his department, recovered meat derived from suspected stolen cattle around the Pienaar policing area, following a tip-off from community members last week.

Both the police and the departmental officials acted swiftly after being made aware of the illegal slaughtering of cattle in this area.

According to police information, as soon as the team arrived at the suspicious house, two men fled the scene, leaving behind a light delivery vehicle they had allegedly been driving.

The police said they suspected that the meat was going to be distributed with the same vehicle. A teenage boy was found cooking at the same house, and has been taken in for questioning.

The police also seized the vehicle and the meat, which upon quantifying, suggested that about five cattle had been slaughtered. They are investigating and searching for the suspects who had fled the scene, or any other people linked to the matter.

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“We condemn any acts of criminality and we further appeal to butchery owners to always ensure that the meat or any products they sell, are not sourced from criminal proceeds. Any businessperson getting their goods through dodgy means are accomplices to crime and will be criminally prosecuted as well,” warned Shongwe.

He said such an act is not just a criminal offence, but it also places people’s lives at risks, because meat sold on the black market has not been tested and OK’d for public consumption.

Shongwe hailed the collaboration between his department and the SAPS, but urged the police to work even harder to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

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He said he was grateful to the tip-off from the community and said members of the public must always help the police to solve crime cases by reporting any suspicious activities or people.