Brutal stock thieves hit village again leaving one cow in agony
STOCK theft in Zozo location at Kwelerha outside East London has reached a crisis point, with the fifth farmer in less than a month being hit by thieves during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Farmer Xolani Haya, who owns close to 150 livestock, said it hurt to see three of his cows lying butchered near a rural dip tank, with one cow severely wounded with its tail cut off.
“I am very puzzled.
“This is the second time I have experienced this. In 2015, I was a victim,” he said.
In the latest incident, four cows, two heifers and two bulls valued at R43 000 were driven for 5km from where Haya lives into the bush, not far from the district road that connects the village to the N2.
When the Dispatch visited the area, a wire gate that provides access to the village’s dip tank was cut and cow entrails, skins and heads lay on the ground.
The criminals had evidently taken only a few parts.
“They always target this place. They used the wire from the gate to carry portions of the stolen meat.
“We believe they sell them in surrounding areas,” said local herdsman Steven Zondiwe.
Zondiwe said the village was a stock theft hotspot due to its proximity to the N2 and many farms in the region. The fourth cow was slaughtered by local herdsmen when they saw it was struggling after its legs and tail were hacked, probably with an axe, he said.
Blue Water police station commander captain Mziwebandla Majiya confirmed this was the fifth case reported in less than a month.
“The last time we had this high number of cases was in 2014. We are investigating leads,” he said.
“We believe they sell the meat to the street hawkers in East London for much less than it is worth,” said Majiya. On the scene, police stock theft unit inspectors were seen taking samples of the rotting meat.
The SAPS dog unit was summoned to try and pick up the criminals’ scent.
In 2016, a two-day raid in the area by police resulted in 18 head of cattle and seven sheep belonging to a farmer from Blue Water being recovered from farms nearby.
Zondiwe and Haya said they would patrol the area during the night.
“We left at 2am today.
“We will do the same tonight and hopefully we will catch them,” said Zondiwe.