SEKHUKHUNE – TWO men from the Sekhukhune area were sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment each after they were found guilty of stock theft recently.
Marble Hall poplice spokesperson, Const Lethunya Muroa, said Petrus Buta (37) and Johannes Phetla (47) were arrested by the Marble Hall stock theft unit on January 31 2012 in Tonteldoos village near Groblersdal.
Buta and Phetla were caught stealing four cows and two bulls from a kraal at Welgeluk Farm.
“Buta and Phetla were aiming to sell the cattle at an auction in Belfast, Mpumalanga.
“The livestock was branded and that made identification a lot easier. The cattle were later handed back to their lawful owner.
“The police welcome the sentence and would like encourage livestock owners to make sure that their farm animals are clearly marked.
“The branding of livestock becomes useful during identification processes when there are incidents of stock theft. To those who terrorise our communities by stealing farm animals, we want to send a strong message that we are hot on their heels,” Muroa said.
