Four suspected stock thieves caught

A communal livestock farmer was relieved after the swift recovery of his stolen goats. Captain Muzuvele Gumede, commander of the Mehlomnyama Police Station, and Reserve Constable Simphiwe Shibe, acted quickly on a tip-off indicating that the stolen goats were tied up at a homestead in the Msinsini area. After finding the goats as directed, the two police officers arrested the four suspects. They will face charges in the Port Shepstone Magistrates’ Court. The goats were handed back to the rightful owner. Commercial and communal livestock farmers suffered losses of more than R430 million in the 2011/2012 financial year, according to the Red Meat Industry Forum.