Four foreign Nationals who were apprehended for being in possession of suspected stock theft in Polokwane, Limpopo. They were also arrested for contravening the Immigration Act on 05 April 2022. They have appeared before Polokwane Magistrate court on Tuesday 19 April 2022.
Petros Mbedzi (41), Phenuel Ndou (36), Hulisani Mbedzi (36) and Bokans Mave (36) were denied bail and their cases were postponed to Friday 29 April 2022.
ARRESTED FOR STOCK THEFT IN POLOKWANE
The suspects were arrested at Nirvana N1 traffic circle outside Polokwane while driving an Isuzu bakkie with a trailer loaded with 52 goats and 4 sheep.
Police members from the corporate communication and administration services were busy with logistical duties when they spotted the said vehicle with four occupants. They stopped the vehicle and immediately called for police backup for assistance. While interrogating the suspects about the origin of the livestock.
The two members are not from the Stock Theft environment. But the Police instinct in them kicked in when they saw the livestock in transit.
NO PROPER DOCUMENTATION
The suspects failed to produce proper documentations of the livestock and were immediately arrested on the spot. The vehicle with a trailer were seized. Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspects were in the country illegally. The livestock was stolen from Zimbabwe and destined to be sold in Gauteng province.
Afterwards, the member from Corporate communication together with the Limpopo Provincial Stock Theft and Vereeniging Stock theft unit conducted a tactical intelligence driven operation in Gauteng province. Subsequently, they managed to recover 28 stolen goats which were kept at a plot in Vereeniging policing precinct.
Furthermore, the operation continued to Musina in Limpopo province resulting in 116 goats believed to be stolen from Zimbabwe also impounded in a farm.
The total value of the livestock is estimated at R240000. 00
Preliminary investigations revealed that the livestock were illegally transported from Zimbabwe and kept at a farm outside Musina for brandmarking and later to be transported to Gauteng province.
The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe thanked the two members. This is after working out of their lines of duty to intercept the livestock thieves. “If every police officer and members of the community can work like this. Crime levels will be reduced drastically across the Province,” concluded the General.
