Cops launch plan to rein in rampant stock theft

RAMPANT stock theft, which saw many people lose their lives and families displaced in the ’90s in Tsolo, Qumbu and Mqanduli, has again reared its ugly head.

Police said they were doing their best to control the situation before it got out of hand.

Police launched an operation specifically dealing with stock theft in Qumbu and Tsolo and it is expected to continue for “some time”.

“The operation is going to be rolled out to other areas where we notice a rise in stock theft.

“We want to clean those areas and defeat crime,” Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said.

He said 12 stolen cattle were found and two men arrested at Ntonkashe village in Tsolo at the start of the operation on Friday.

Fatyela said the men were expected to appear in the Tsolo Magistrate’s Court today on a charge of stock theft.

“The operation is headed by the stock theft unit but a number of police units are also involved.

“We expect to make more arrests and recover more stolen livestock,” he said.

Fatyela said the Bhityi administrative area near Mthatha also experienced stock theft.

Last month, two men died in a fight over cattle and eight were arrested.

Police confiscated 12 firearms and an assortment of other dangerous weapons, including spears, pangas and swords, after two opposing groups of villagers and livestock owners clashed.

The eight arrested men were charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and some for possession of dangerous weapons and stock theft.

“Bhityi is one of the areas that we will roll out a strong operation,” Fatyela warned.