LIMPOPO – Mokete Seshibe says she last saw her eight cows when her herd boy took her cows, along with another person’s livestock, to a grazing field a fortnight ago. By sunset that Monday evening, neither the cows nor the herd boy had been seen or heard of. Suspicion arose when the herd boy returned claiming all eight of Seshibe’s cows were stolen while only one of his other employee’s cows was unaccounted for.
Affectionately known as Ntlepe among the locals, the widowed gogo has no idea what could have happened to her cows. The Botlokwa Police Station has had many accounts of livestock theft reported, with little success during their investigations.
Meanwhile, there are widespread allegations of a suspicious kraal in the periphery of Eisleben village, which is believed to keep stolen livestock.
During a recent interview with Seshibe at the police station, it was obvious that she was shaken up by the situation.
“When the cattle did not return on the first day, I wasn’t too worried. I was hopeful that my cows would return the following day but they didn’t. That’s when fear struck. The search for the livestock then started but reality later dawned on me and those helping me that our efforts were in vain. All I can do now is wait for the police to find my livestock.”
Spokesperson for the Botlokwa Police, Sergeant Thilivhali Mavhungu, said although stock theft is not prevalent in the area, their success rate in recovering the stolen animals is low.
“On average, there are three incidents of stock theft in a period of two months in the area.However, when these animals are stolen, chances are they may not be recovered,” said Mavhungu.
