By BAKANG MOKOTO
14 December 2024- The Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in the North West called for rural safety operations targeting stock theft syndicates and opportunistic crime throughout the festive season. The MRM’s call for increased police visibility and regular patrols in rural communities follows 11 December 2024’s arrest of two men reportedly found in possession of nine suspected stolen cattle near Stella, outside Vryburg.
A Convenor of the MRM Provincial Interim Committee, Pastor Lesiba Kgwele commend the vigilance of farmers around the area, who were in hot pursuit of the two culprits when Jacobus Venter (28) phoned police alleging that his life and that of Isaac Matebele (44) with whom he was driving were in danger.
Kgwele said they welcomed the arrest of Venter and Matebele, whose single cab they were driving in was nearly torched by 50 local farmers who had responded to the alleged stock theft incident.
“Although this was understandably an emotionally charged encounter due to the devastating impact of stock theft on subsistence and commercial farmers, who are impoverished by crime, we appeal to farmers not to take the law into their own hands and to respect the rule of law.
“According to police, preliminary investigations revealed that the pair allegedly stole livestock on three different occasions in Ramabesa Section, Setlagole village between 20 November and 4 December 2024, then sold them at an auction in Ottosdal,” he said.
Kgwele urged police not to leave any stone unturned, adding that an in-depth probe will establish whether the pair who appeared in court earlier in the day were involved in other incidents of stock theft.
“If found guilty, forfeiture of the bakkie and trailer should follow to send an unequivocal message that vehicles used in the commission of crime are regarded as proceeds of crime,” he added.
Meanwhile, the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, welcomed the arrest, which he said will definitely assist in solving several stock theft cases.
The Guardian 