A Welkom tavern owner and six accomplices were arrested when Welkom police, reacting on a tip-off, found them in possession of 15 carcasses and four live sheep.
On Monday, 12 December, at about 00:30, 32 and 69 sheep were stolen in two separate incidents from two farms in the district of Hennenman.
Two cases of stock theft were registered for further investigation.
The Kroonstad and Welkom K9 unit, Hennenman police and members of the Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit followed up on leads and received information about sheep that were being slaughtered in a backyard of a tavern in Bailey Street, Reitzpark, Welkom.
The Lejweleputswa District Task Team, led by Lt. Col Melanie Fouché, searched the premises. They found a white Hyundai bakkie and grey Ford Ranger with 15 sheep carcasses. Four of the sheep were still alive and were seized by the police.
One of the owners of the stolen sheep was called to the scene. He managed to identify the sheep as his property, and they were returned to him.
The tavern owner and the six accomplices were arrested for possession of suspected stolen live stock. They are aged from 37 to 53 years.
“The case has been handed to the Odendaalsrus Stock Theft and Endangered Species unit for further investigation,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng, media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa police.
The district commissioner of Lejweleputswa, Maj. Gen. Lerato Molale, praised the residents of Reitzpark for trusting the police with this sensitive information which led to the arrests and seizure.
