Four suspects, who were apprehended for being in possession of suspected stolen livestock and contravening the Immigration Act on 05 April 2022, have appeared before Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 19 April 2022.
Petros Mbedzi (41), Phenuel Ndou (36), Hulisani Mbedzi (36), and Bokans Mave (36) were denied bail and their cases were postponed to Friday, 29 April 2022.
The suspects were arrested at Nirvana N1 traffic circle outside Polokwane while driving an Isuzu bakkie with a trailer loaded with 52 goats and 4 sheep.
Police members from the Corporate Communication and Administration services were busy with logistical duties when they spotted the said vehicle with four occupants. They stopped the vehicle and immediately called for police backup while interrogating the suspects about the origin of the livestock. While the two members are not from the Stock Theft environment their instinct led them to question the suspects about the livestock in transit.
The suspects failed to produce proper documentation of the livestock and were immediately arrested on the spot and the vehicle with a trailer was seized. Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspects were in the country illegally and the livestock was stolen from Zimbabwe and destined to be sold in Gauteng province.
Afterward, the member from Corporate Communication along with the Limpopo Provincial Stock Theft and Vereeniging Stock Theft Unit conducted a tactical intelligence-driven operation in Gauteng province and subsequently managed to recover 28 stolen goats that were kept at a plot in Vereeniging policing precinct.
Furthermore, the operation continued to Musina in Limpopo province resulting in the recovery of 116 goats, believed to have been stolen from Zimbabwe. The recovered livestock was impounded. The total value of the livestock is estimated at R24, 0000. 00
Preliminary investigations revealed that the livestock was illegally transported from Zimbabwe and kept at a farm outside Musina for brand marking and later to be transported to Gauteng province.
The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe commended the two members for their vigilance and for going above and beyond their call of duty in intercepting the livestock thieves. “If every police officer and members of the community can work like this, crime levels will be reduced drastically across the Province,” concluded the General.
Police investigations are continuing.