Assisted by the police crime intelligence division and various station police officers, the operation conducted between 7 and 19 June focussed on raiding stock theft suspects, visiting farms, conducting patrols, monitoring the movement of livestock, and visiting livestock pounds and abattoirs.
“Recovered livestock include 251 stolen cattle, 17 goats, six sheep and two horses. All recovered livestock was positively identified and returned to the lawful owners,” said Major Thulani Zwane, KZN police spokesperson, in a statement.
Zwane also reported that 12 suspects were arrested for stock theft, six for animal identification infringements, four for the possession of dagga, one for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and one for selling alcohol without a licence.
“We appeal to livestock owners to make sure that their stock is properly marked in terms of the Animal Identification Act so that it will be easy to return them if found,” said KZN police commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, in the statement.
“I am pleased that police officers are vigilant and monitoring the movement of stock throughout the year so that stock thieves can be nabbed.”
