Stock Theft Crackdown in Eastern Cape: Police Recover Stolen Livestock

In an extensive operation targeting stock theft, the Eastern Cape saw a significant breakthrough by local enforcement authorities. From July 31 to August 2, 2024, the Mqanduli Stock Theft Unit conducted a meticulous operation across the OR Tambo District, seizing stolen livestock, thwarting stock theft rings, and making advances to identify the rightful owners of the recovered animals.

The squad initiated its operation in Bityi, where a prompt response to a tip-off resulted in the discovery of nine cattle suspected of being stolen. Upon investigation, four were confirmed as having been taken from Mqanduli. However, when the unit received intelligence about additional stolen cattle being herded by horseback from Bityi to Ngcobo, their swift action led to the retrieval of thirteen more cattle after the suspected thieves abandoned the animals and fled.

The recovered livestock was logged at the local Dalasile police station and subsequently housed at the Mthatha SPCA stock pound. Concurrently, additional members of the unit executed operations across multiple villages under the Bityi and Mqanduli policing precincts, leading to the recovery of fifty-six sheep found scattered across the region. While the main suspect is believed to have left for Cape Town, police continue to actively pursue the case.

In a separate village, their operations led them to recover an additional fifteen cattle and fourteen goats, all of which have now been impounded in Mthatha. Notably, a Bonsmara breed heifer was positively identified among the seized animals, which had reportedly been stolen from Elliot.

Major General Pumzile Cetyana, the OR Tambo District Commissioner, commended the unit's members and all who participated in the operation for their unwavering resolve to combat stock theft, which is a persisting issue in the district. He stressed the importance of community involvement in mitigating this crime, urging local farmers and livestock owners to brand their stock effectively. Branding serves as a critical tool for easy identification, facilitating prompt recovery and return of stolen livestock.

These efforts by the Eastern Cape police contribute significantly to the fight against stock theft, restoring the livelihoods of affected farmers and affirming the capacity of local enforcement to tackle such organized crime within the agricultural community.