Several cattle were found “brutally” slaughtered and mutilated by stock thieves in Winterveldt, north of Pretoria, this week.
The thieves struck in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving several farmers counting their losses in the morning.
It has been less than three months since the last such stock theft incident was reported in the area.
“Two were brutally butchered and the other mutilated with its tail cut off,” said Solomon Motlhatlhego, chairman of Baruakgomo, a local livestock forum.
Motlhatlhego said the cows were found lying dead in the veld where they normally grazed.
“Understandably, the farmers here are very angry about this attack on their livestock and want action to be taken immediately,” he said.
ALSO READ: North farmers decry inaction over livestock theft
“We have been calling on police senior management to help us with this problem.
“Stock theft is a serious problem around Ga-Rankuwa, Soshanguve, Klipgat, Mabopane and Winterveldt.”
Motlhatlhego said police minister Bheki Cele should intervene before local farmers took the law into their own hands.
“We are fed up with cases of stock theft and killings,” he said.
“Cele must to come here and help us find the perpetrators.”
He said the farmers have tried to engage with local police but were “not happy” with the way they dealt with cases.
ALSO READ: Livestock owners angry as alleged thief goes free
Motlhatlhego said the forum was concerned about people who sold red meat from buckets at various social grant pay-point centres.
“I cannot help but wonder whether it was our livestock slaughtered for that meat. It is a pity our people flock to them because they sell the meat at ridiculously low prices,” said Motlhatlhego.
“There has not been any successful prosecution in stock theft cases. Stock theft cases will be opened, the suspect arrested – but the case will be later withdrawn or the suspect released.”
Motlhatlhego said last year the farmers helped Loate police to arrest stock theft suspects.
“We received a tip-off and immediately contacted police to go to the scene with us. When we arrived, we found the four men busy cutting up two stolen cows. The men were arrested and detained at Hebron SAPS.
“They were taken to court the next day, but we were shocked when the court decided to release them on bail the next day.”
Motlhatlhego alleged the identities of the men and their residential addresses had not been verified.
ALSO READ: NATIONAL NEWS: Suspects choke up whereabouts of ‘stolen’ livestock
“We are disappointed with our judicial system. They seem to be fighting against us,” he said.
“How do they give bail to people who cannot be traced if they decide to skip bail?”
SPCA inspector Mishack Matlou said his organisation was also angry at the cruel manner in which the cattle were butchered.
He urged police to act against the perpetrators.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
