Food security greatly jeopardised by unprecedented livestock-looting by criminal gang using same truck: pic:
"Media Statement by the Gauteng Stock Theft Forum"-- A gust of unprecedented livestock theft cases -- in which the same truck was used each time -- occurred in South Africa since June 2013 -- with specific reference to livestock theft cases that occurred on the perimeters of the Gauteng province.
· During June 13 Bonsmara Stud Heifers age 18 months and 5 cows were stolen near Beestekraal/Atlanta in the North West province. The value is estimated at R270 000.
· The same producer near Beestekraal/Atlanta was again hit on 26 July and 29 Bonsmara stud cows were stolen at a estimated value of R435 000.
· On the night of 30 July 2013, 45 Brahman/Simbra cross heifers and 5 cows were stolen near Olifantsnekdam in the vicinity of Rustenburg. The estimated value of the cattle is R450 000.
· On the night of 7 August 2013 near the Kranskop Toll plaza Modimole, 51 Brauvieh/Brahman cross cows were stolen with an estimated value of R510 000.
· The most recent case was on 15 August 2013 where 25 Brahman stud cows was stolen near Mokopane with an estimated value of R500 000.
Total loss: R2.1million. These cases do not make headlines in the agricultural communities: yet they all have the same modus operandi.
In another case not directly linked to the theft of these above cattle, 120 sheep were stolen on 7 August near Balfour at an estimated value of R180 000.
DESCRIPTION, PICTURE OF TRUCK:
In all these cases, the same truck was used to load the cattle: a prominent fixture of the truck is the blue tailgate; the rest of the truck is white. It's also evident that this truck was built for mass-grain transportation; the cattle-rails are not of a high quality. Evidence found of paint, tyre marks etc. and the way of loading cattle at loading pens close to the N1 and other major route are the same. In all the cases the truck headed for Gauteng. There is no proof that the truck and cattle remained in the province: they could have ended up in other provinces. The only conclusion that can be made is that the same crime syndicate is involved in these crimes. Livestock producers are not only losing their cattle and money in this process but the economic viability of their farming operations is put under severe strains -- to such an extent that the food security in the country is jeopardised.
The public is requested to be on the lookout for the specific truck and when spotted to contact Lt.Col Scott of the Gauteng Stock Theft Unit at 0823351083 or Capt Lubbe of the Modimole Stock Theft Unit at 084 515 6925.
Issued by: Willie Clack, chairman, Gauteng Stock Theft Forum tel 082 574 2653
For more information on livestock theft: http://www.saps.gov.za
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