Livestock farmers in the Vhembe region who have been plagued by rampant stock thefts in recent years are hopeful that their troubles with thieves may finally be coming to an end. This follows the arrest of a 60-year-old suspect, believed to be the mastermind behind numerous stock thefts in the Vhembe District. The suspect was apprehended by members of the Makhado Crime Intelligence Unit and the Stock Theft Unit on 29 June.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba, the arrest took place in the Botlokwa policing area after the police had received a tip-off about the transportation of seven stolen cattle in a Toyota bakkie with a trailer toward Rathidili village, under the Tshilwavhusiku precinct.
"Acting on the information, the police swiftly responded and attempted to stop two vehicles. While one vehicle managed to escape, the Toyota bakkie was cornered, and the suspect was arrested on the spot. The suspect then cooperated with the police and provided information about the whereabouts of the ringleader, who was located and apprehended in Mokomene, in the Vuka Section," said Ledwaba.
The arrest has been welcomed by Vhembe farmers as a positive step. Mr Vhonani Nesengani, an emerging farmer from the Vuwani area who recently lost two cows, expressed renewed hope because of the arrest. He emphasised the need for collaboration among farmers to address the issue of stock theft.
"I am relatively new to this field, having started farming just three years ago, but I have already fallen victim to thieves. I own a butchery, and my herd is meant to supplement my business during times of need. What I have realised is that we, as farmers, partly contribute to these thefts by employing herders who sometimes leave the livestock unattended in the bushes while they take on other jobs. We sometimes employ untrustworthy herders who collude with thieves," he said.
Nesengani called on the government to reintroduce grazing camps and allocate more resources to the stock-theft units. He also stressed the importance of farmers working together in groups to combat theft in the area.