Stock thief caught at braai

Two men are on the run after they were found slaughtering a cow believed to have been stolen, reports the Pretoria North Rekord.

A 33-year-old man who was apparently drunk and unable to run was arrested on the scene.

Police spokesperson Captain Samuel Sebola said police received a tip-off on Monday that three men were slaughtering a suspected stolen cow.

The informant also tipped off the Tshwane metro police and the SPCA.

“Together with the metro police and the SPCA, we rushed to the said address were the slaughtering was taking place,” he said.

“The three men were found having a braai with the ox liver on the fire at their shack in Winterveldt.”

SPCA inspector Mishack Matlou said the cow had allegedly been stolen in Limpopo.

The animal had been sliced and packaged properly to be sold.

“Other parts were hanging in the shack while others were already in the buckets and neatly arranged,” he said.

“We traced the cow’s brandmark to a farm in Limpopo, but we could not contact the owner.”

He said he was concerned about the killing of animals in Winterveldt.

“Most animals are getting treated and should not be eaten because they could make people sick,” he said.

He said it was easy to identify animals with brands, so he advised farmers to brand their livestock.

Residents who witnessed the slaughtering said they did not know the cow had been stolen.

“We are shocked to see this. It is really disappointing,” one witness said.

Sebola said a charge of livestock theft had been laid and the arrested man would appear in court soon.

– Caxton News Service

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