Central SA
Free State man in court for alleged stock theft─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 08:58 Mon, 09 Jan 2023
A 43-year-old man is set to appear before the Virginia Magistrate's Court in the Free State on Monday after being arrested for being in possession of presumably suspected stolen livestock.
The Free State police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says members of the Virginia Rural Safety Coordinators from Crime Intelligence were informed about stock theft that was in progress at a farm in Virginia on 6 January 2023, at about 20:00. He adds that backup was sought from the Welkom Visible Policing Unit and way lay duties was conducted until 21:00 at the identified farm, where a dark bakkie with a canopy was spotted travelling on the gravel road to the Virginia farm.
According to Thakeng, the bakkie was followed up until the Aldam, Virginia and Winburg crossing, where it was stopped and seven men allegedly jumped out of the bakkie and ran in different directions into the bushes.
A 43-year-old driver was arrested with eight slaughtered goat carcasses and two sheep carcasses. Thakeng says the suspect could not provide the police with the necessary documents for those carcasses. The suspect was arrested and the bakkie was seized.
