The official crime statistics may indicate that stock theft in Vhembe is on a downward trend, but rural farming communities believe the opposite is true. In fact, some are so frustrated with cattle thieves that they have started to take the law into their own hands.
This week, two suspected thieves were beaten to death at Tshimbupfe.
Two weeks ago, the South African Police Service released the crime statistics for the first quarter of the year. In Limpopo, 521 cases of stock theft were reported — 70 fewer than the same period last year. Sekhukhune was the only police station in the province that featured in the national top 30, at number 29, with 24 reported cases. Vhembe did not feature, except for a note stating that incidents had decreased.
But the statistics mean little to farmers who say they are forced to protect their herds themselves. Some say they no longer bother reporting cases to the police as they believe little action is taken and they waste time at police stations or in court, only to see cases dismissed.
Vuwani, in particular, has become a hotspot for cattle theft, with livestock reportedly stolen weekly. At least 12 head of cattle have been stolen in the past fortnight, some recovered and others slaughtered.
The situation came to a head on Monday morning, 2 June, at Tshimbupfe Tshilindi Dombo Farm. Angry residents attacked two suspected thieves with an assortment of weapons. One man died at the scene, while the second succumbed to his injuries later.
According to Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi, a cattle herder had locked four cattle in a kraal on Sunday night. When he returned on Monday morning, they were missing. "During his search, he was informed that two men were being attacked at a nearby farm. When he got there, he found three of his missing cattle — one already dead and two with severe leg injuries. Next to the cattle were two naked men, one dead and one critically injured. The herder contacted the police," Dathi said.
The men were later identified as Fulufhelo Ramukosi (49) from Manavhela and Bethuel Mulaudzi (41) from Hamutsha Khwekhwe. Dathi confirmed it was not their first run-in with the law.
Community leader Mr Rembuluwani Mawana said stock theft was a growing problem in the area. "We are at the receiving end, with thieves on the rampage. Just last week, eight of our cattle were stolen in a neighbouring village. We had to resort to a traditional healer, who assisted us, and some cattle were returned alive. We've had enough. Imagine raising cattle, paying a herder a monthly salary, buying medication — only for someone to steal your herd. We report cases and when suspects are arrested, they're fined an amount that wouldn't even buy a cow. People are tired — it's no wonder the brutal attack [took place]," he said.
Mawana said farmers were now having sleepless nights guarding their herds. "Crime is getting out of hand. First it was illegal sand miners degrading our environment. Then cable thieves terrorising us. Now it's cattle thieves," he said.
Dathi confirmed that the police were investigating two counts of murder, cruelty to animals and malicious damage to property.
He warned the community against taking the law into their own hands. "It hinders investigations and it is against the law," he said.
Before his death, the surviving suspect allegedly told the police they had entered the kraal at about 04:00 to steal the cattle, which were intended for a butchery in Giyani.
The police have not made any arrests. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Sgt Ndidzulafhi Mulaudzi on 076 939 9199.