Ladybrand police spokesperson, Martin Xuma, says the local stock theft unit is elated after finally managing to arrest 43-year-old Teboho Tsoeu, as well as another accomplice, 43-year-old Tumo Ponea.

He says they were arrested at the farm Lindesrust following a tip-off from a member of the community.

“Our members from the Ladybrand Stock Theft Unit, namely Warrant Officer Tebogo Mnqebisa and Constable Balekile Sediba, acted on the information and observed that particular farm.

“They noticed the two suspects entering the kraal and they allegedly stole 31 sheep to the value of R35 000. When they were busy trying to hide them in an empty dam in a grazing camp in the Hobhouse area, the police members pounced on them and they arrested the two suspects.”

OFM News reported on stock theft at Lindesrust farm in Hobhouse earlier this year, where 76-year-old farmer Sello Matlolane lost nearly his entire herd of more than 200 sheep to stock theft.

Xuma says the suspects made their first appearance in the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on stock theft charges this week and the case was postponed to November 25. He says investigations are continuing but police believe the suspects could be linked to numerous other stock theft cases in the area.

Sabrina Dean/OFM News