Urgent call for police commissioner’s intervention after 24 cattle stolen, slaughtered in KZN village
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF CATTLE HEADS, STOMACHS AND INTESTINES BELOW.
Durban — Livestock owners in the Emakhuzeni village near Highflats in KwaZulu-Natal demand police intervention after 24 cattle were stolen in three days.
The local headman (induna) Bhekani Phungula said the latest incidents showed how brazen criminals are. Phungula said the first incident happened on Saturday, when the remains of five cattle were found. On Tuesday, thieves struck and butchered 19 cattle. Phungula said a new modus operandi was to slaughter the cattle in the grazing yard and then load the carcasses on trucks. Phungula said heads and intestines were left lying around.
Phungula said the local SAPS stock theft unit cannot win the battle alone. He called for intervention from KZN police provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
“We have a problem. I do not know how many times we have complained about stock theft in this village. It does not look like we will find a solution in the near future, which is why we are now appealing to the provincial commissioner for help,” said Phungula.
Mthathelwa Khumalo, one of the livestock owners whose 10 cattle were part of the flock that was slaughtered by thieves, said the local police seem to be failing to cope with stock theft because syndicates are well organised and are allegedly working with butchery owners.
A truck that was transporting cattle parts believed to be the ones stolen from them were found in KwaMakhutha south of Durban on Wednesday.
“It is clear that butcher shop owners are working with local thieves within our village since it is impossible for a person from Durban to know where our cattle are grazing,” said Khumalo
Police have not responded to the queries sent to them, however, the police comment would be added once received.
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