Two arrested in possession of stolen meat worth R30 000
"We were also called to the scene, and the three cows were hacked on the back of their heads." - SPCA
Two women were arrested in Winterveldt on Saturday for the possession of suspected stolen meat valued at over R30 000, the Loate police said.
Spokesperson Captain Samuel Sebola said the two women, aged between 40 and 60, were arrested at Maphosa Stand around 10:00 following a tip-off that they sold meat clearly from a home-butchery when they did not own cattle.
“The mother and daughter were charged with stock theft after meat from three slaughtered cows was found in their house,” said Sebola.
Chairman of Barua-kgomo Cluster B, Sello Monkwe said an informant had passed on the information then “we involved the police”.
“The duo used Zimbabwean guys to slaughter the cows. When we arrived at the house with the police, the guys ran away. Together with the police, we searched the house and could not believe what we found,” said Monkwe.
He said besides the meat from the three cows that had been slaughtered, they also found old cow-skins.
“The informant told us that these two women have been in this business for years, stealing cattle, slaughtering them and selling the meat,” said Monkwe.
The two were expected in the Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court soon.
Monkwe on Monday vented his frustration at the lack of police visibility, saying farmers were growing desperate over the high incidents of stock theft.
“We have had numerous cases of stock theft reported to police and we are not happy with the ways police investigations in the cases,” he said.
Monkwe said the police “did not play ball” when it came to cases of stock theft.
“I have to wait for the Cullinan Stocktheft unit and often am told that they are understaffed and operating with only one vehicle, which is out most of the time.”
Police said a preliminary investigation indicated the meat, which was confiscated by the police, would have been sold to street vendors.
The SPCA said it was angered by the manner in which the animals were stolen and cruelly slaughtered.
“As the SPCA we are concerned about the manner in which the cattle are slaughtered. We were also called to the scene, and the three cows were hacked on the back of their heads. They hurt the animals in the cruellest form you can imagine. We are appealing for a harsher sentence for these people,” said SPCA inspector Mishack Matlou.
ALSO READ:
https://rekordnorth.co.za/105337/two-men-denied-bail-for-stock-theft/
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