ORANGE FARMS. – An alleged shepherd was forced to take the blame when the owner of suspectedly stolen cattle and goats refused to hand himself over to the police.
At least 11 cattle and 31 goats were found in the different rooms of a house at the Driezik 3. The police were following up on a tip-off that led to an arrest on Monday.
It was alleged that the suspect is out on bail over a similar matter recorded at the Fochville Magistrates Court and the Vanderbijlpark Court. Stock Theft Unit commander Captain Johannes Mabusela arrested the man, who was found in the house, for possession of stolen animals. Sergeant Isaac Ndweni of the Barrage assisted with back-up. The alleged suspect told police that he had arrived from Soweto the previous day.
He denied having any information regarding the animals. Police allowed him to call the alleged rightful owner.
The alleged owner telephonically claimed that he was around Fochville. He later claimed he was in Heidelberg.
An owner, Sydney Matabane, said his animals had gone missing in West Rand on Monday He said that his family had woken up in the morning to find that the chain at the gate had been cut. In total 18 cattle and calves were stolen, he reported. At least the police managed to recover 11 cattle and four calves. The suspect will be charged with stock theft. He will appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court soon.
