By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The fight against crime in rural areas gained success after police arrested eight suspects in two separate incidents. In the first incident reported in the early hours of Friday, 19 July 2024, the police said they received a tip-off regarding a suspicious vehicle on the N14 road (between Ventersdorp and Carletonville).
The North West police spokesperson, Col Adele Myburgh said the police in Klerkskraal assisted by Potchefstroom Flying Squad, managed to stop two taxi vehicles and arrested six suspects aged between 23 and 45, after they could not account for 30 sheep and 18 goats found inside the two taxis.
Myburgh further said they will appear before the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on 22 July 2023, for being in possession of suspected stolen property. She added that, in another separate incident reported later on the same night, Boons police members on patrol on the R509 road (between Derby and Magaliesburg), noticed a suspicious Toyota Quantum taxi.
“The vehicle was stopped and two passengers jumped out of the vehicle and ran off, but police arrested two others. When searching inside the taxi, police found 37 goats and the suspects could not account for them.
“The duo aged 30 and 38, will appear before the Koster Magistrate’s Court on 22 July 2024, for possession of suspected stolen goats. In both these cases, the animals were not marked,” said Myburgh.
She said the police would once more urge farmers to mark their animals according to the Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act No 6 of 2002), because many court cases are lost because of disputes regarding the proper identification of animals. Myburgh said if an animal is marked with a registered brand or tattoo, disputes will be avoided.
The Guardian 