Eight men have been arrested in a dramatic police operation that has uncovered a suspected stock-theft syndicate operating in the Qumbu area — a hotspot area for the crime.
The arrests follow the recovery of a hijacked government vehicle, stolen livestock, and illegal firearms on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Captain Welile Matyolo said two alert Qumbu police officers, including the visible policing (Vispol) commander, noticed an unregistered vehicle with four men occupants along the Balasi gravel road at about 5pm.
A Toyota GD6 2.8 bakkie had been reported missing in Dutywa, belonging to the department of health.
Matyolo said upon searching the four occupants aged between 23 and 45, two of the men were found in possession of an unlicensed 9mm pistol each, both with erased serial numbers and with 19 live rounds in total.
“Preliminary investigation revealed the arrested suspects were on a stock-theft mission,” Matyolo said.
“They led police to four more suspects aged between 25 and 48 in Nxothwe, resulting in the recovery of 42 sheep stolen from the Ndasala locality in Qumbu.”
All the suspects are expected to appear at the Qumbu magistrate’s court on Thursday.
OR Tambo district commissioner Major-General Norman Modishana praised the polices’ quick reaction.
“It is clear that we are dealing with a stock-theft syndicate, and police will work around the clock to dismantle it, putting all involved behind bars,” Modishana said.
In October 2024, police recovered more than R6m worth of stolen livestock in the Eastern Cape during two weeks of operation in hotspot areas of the province.
The action targeted the four hotspot districts — Alfred Nzo, OR Tambo, Chris Hani and Amathole,
The recovered livestock were taken to pounds in towns including Qumbu, Tsolo and KwaBhaca.
Sheep rank as the most stolen animals, followed by poultry, goats and cattle.
Daily Dispatch
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