EASTERN CAPE – The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga’s determination to eradicate stock theft in the Eastern Cape played out when she personally confiscated seven (7) suspected stolen sheep and effected an arrest of three (3) male suspects aged between 27 and 35 on Thursday morning, 17 June 2021, at Xaxazana Locality, in Mount Fletcher.

At the time of the incident, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga was driving to an outreach event organised by Pholile Police Station for the handing over of school uniform to the victims of Gender Based Violence in Mt Fletcher, when she stopped a bus carrying suspected stolen sheep. She started conducting a search for a possible crime and called her forces for reinforcement.

As she continued the search in the Bus, seven sheep were found locked inside the place where passenger luggage are normally kept. The Bus driver was then questioned about papers for transportation of the sheep which he failed to produce. Those who claimed the sheep also could not produce the papers which would have served as proof of purchase.

General Ntshinga then arrested the three suspects including the bus driver after they failed to provide the necessary documents to prove that the sheep were not stolen. The livestock were then taken to the police station whilst further investigation was underway to verify the information provided by the suspects.

After the final investigation, police were satisfied that the sheep were not stolen but stock theft regulations had been contravened, as no papers were produced for conveyance and purchase of the livestock. Subsequently, all three suspects were issued with J 534’s in order to pay fines to the amount of R300-00 each or appear in court should they fail to pay the fine.

The former Chief investigator and a Commander within the Hawks environment Lt Gen Liziwe Ntshinga was convinced that the laws regulating Stock theft were violated, and this was proven by the outcome of the final investigation. She urged stock theft commanders not to be lenient towards stock thieves, but implement the laws and regulations to the letter. The Provincial Commissioner further warned Stock thieves to refrain from their activities as the net around them is being closed gradually.

Source: South African Police Service