Suspected cattle thieves taken to court

By Phumlani Saul

The kariega safety co-ordinator caught three suspected livestock thieves slaughtering a stolen cow.

Nkosinathi Mdingi (46), Teboho Mphathi (46), and Gcobani Lekhanya (32) appeared in court on 31 October for possession of presumably suspected stolen livestock, and the case was postponed until 6 November for bail information.

The three suspects were caught red-handed slaughtering one of the cows near Dispatch power station on Saturday, 28 October, after the co-ordinator received a tip-off on the matter.

The rural safety officers and kariega stock theft officers spotted the suspects at a river bank slaughtering a cow. Two suspects were arrested, while the third escaped.

The Metro visible policing officers were called to the scene and with the help of the community, the third suspect was traced and caught near Khayamnadi Streets.

The officers recovered the slaughtered cow, three Brangus cattle including a calf, two heads of Brangus cattle, knives, pangas, and home-made spears.

The owner of livestock from Stankie near Perseverance identified his cattle, as seven were stolen from his farm.

An additional charge of stock theft will be added against the three arrested suspects.

The two suspects caught red handed in Virginia while slaughtering a suspected stolen cow. Photo: SAPS
The knives that the suspects used in the commission of a crime in Virginia. Photo: SAPS

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