Three foreign nationals from Lesotho, aged between 29 and 48, are expected to appear at the Mbibana Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 24 June 2024, after their arrest for stock theft and for contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa. They were nabbed at Mmamethlake on Friday morning, 21 June 2024.
According to information, members of the Police at Mmamethlake received information regarding a suspicious vehicle which was seen in the nearby bushes, pulling a trailer loaded with some livestock (cattle).
The information was then operationalised by the members and it was not long before they spotted a suspicious white Isuzu bakkie with a trailer at a secluded place. The occupants of the bakkie fled upon noticing the Police in an attempt to evade the arrest however, one of them was soon apprehended.
The investigation by the Police led to the arrest of two suspects later though Police are still in pursuit of other two suspects who allegedly work with the two suspects who have been arrested. For now three male suspects were apprehended.
During their arrest, the astute members discovered that the trailer was loaded with six cattle and a car key was still in the ignition of the said bakkie.
The men and women in blue also managed to recover some goat meat and it is alleged that a goat was stolen then slaughtered by the suspects.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the three foreign nationals were not in possession of valid documentation to be in South Africa hence they were charged for contravention of the Immigration Act however on that part, the investigators are working in collaboration with officials from the Department of Home Affairs to ascertain their status in the country. It has also been discovered that the vehicle was not reported stolen.
The owner of the livestock has since been located then notified but interestingly, he was unaware that his cattle were stolen and only learned of the incident when Police informed him of the arrest of the three suspects as well as the recovery of the livestock.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has reassured members of the public that Police in the province will continue to work hard in the fight against stock theft. “We are so grateful for the excellent work done by the members however the public has got a critical role to play in the value chain of stock theft. People should refrain from buying suspected stolen properties, including livestock or meat obtained from the hands of suspects,” said the General.
Police arrested three suspects for stock theft in Mmamethlake https://t.co/OqMsPbqI50#ArriveAlive #StockTheft @SAPoliceService @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/LqL8y7t2uL
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 24, 2024
