The police arrested four foreigners and a local man for alleged stock theft in the Leandra area yesterday (October 15). Those arrested are between the ages of 18 and 30.

According to the police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe, 12 cows were allegedly stolen and slaughtered in two separate places around Leandra.

The police were alerted and conducted a search. They found seven carcasses of slaughtered cows, valued at about R250 000.

Captain Nonyane-Mpe said more information led the police to a brown Volkswagen Amarok with Gauteng registration number plates. The vehicle, with one occupant, was spotted during stop and search operations. The vehicle was searched and the meat found inside.

“Additional information led officers to another place, where five more carcasses of slaughtered cattle, to an estimated value of about R175 000, were found inside the kraal. SAPS arrested four people on the scene while two others fled. They left their vehicle behind.”

The five arrested people are expected to appear at the Leslie Magistrate’s Court in Leandra tomorrow (October 17).

The acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has welcomed the swift arrests and emphasised the importance of brand-marking of livestock to owners. This helps in the recovery of stolen livestock as well as for investigation purposes.

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