Farmers desperate for help to retrieve recovered animals from pound

Eastern Cape emerging farmers are appealing to the provincial government, municipalities or any good Samaritan to help them retrieve nine recovered stolen cattle, fearing the cattle could be forfeited if they do not get urgent help.

The animals are in a municipal pound and daily fees are mounting.

The 15 stock owners, many of them pensioners or younger but unemployed people, had a total of 40 cattle — worth R400,000 — stolen from communal grazing land at Centuli village in the notorious Bhityi policing area outside Mthatha on April 22.

Police spokesperson Captain Welile Matyolo confirmed the theft and said nine cattle had so far been recovered.

Some of the animals were recovered at Tsolo village about 100km away from where they were stolen.

Now the owners face having to pay heavy transport fees to get the cattle home from the Mhlontlo municipal pound at Tsolo, and pay pound fees for the days they have spent there.

Speaking on behalf of the community and the affected farmers, Nkosi Mfundo Bhovulengwe Mtirara said they had been trying to assist the farmers recover the missing cattle.

Mtirara is a member of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-san Leaders.

“A quote they received was R3,000 to load three animals into a trailer, while a bakkie would cost R2,000.

“That means to transport three cows one must pay R5,000,” Mtirara said.

“The stock owner who had nine cattle stolen but recovered has to raise R15,000 for transport in addition to the money for the pound fees.

“This man is now working and has no other source of income.

“That will mean that he will have to sell at least two of his cattle,” Mtirara said.

“Only nine of the 40 stolen animals have been recovered.

Matyolo said: “A suspect [Sanele Mgwelana, 33] was arrested at Kunomadolo village in Tsolo for being in possession of suspected stolen stock.

“He was arrested at about 9pm on April 22. The 31 other animals have not yet been found.

“The suspect was charged with being in possession of suspected stolen stock.”

Mgwelana appeared in the Tsolo magistrate’s court on April 24, and the matter was postponed to May 6 for a bail application.

Mtirara said the nine recovered animals belonged to three stock owners.

“They have been in the Mhlontlo animal pound since April 22.

“The daily fee is mounting. “We urge anyone who can assist with transport to please open their hearts.

“One would know how stock owners treasure their animals, so forfeiting them to the animal pound would rub salt in the wound of having lost their other cattle.”

He said another stock owner had all his sheep stolen a day after the cattle were taken.

“The pensioner had four cattle stolen on April 22, and the next night the robbers raided his home and took all 15 sheep in his kraal.

“He heard them stealing the sheep, but [was too afraid] to confront them as they are always armed with big guns.”

Mtirara said stock theft was rife in the area but this was the first time 40 cattle had been stolen in one incident.