A total of 54 sheep

Photo: SAPS

A total of 54 stolen sheep – 15 dead- found crammed into Kombi

A kombi was stopped on the R34 near Frankfort with 54 STOLEN sheep crammed into the back, 15 of these sheep were already dead.

A total of 54 sheep

Photo: SAPS

Police found 54 sheep crammed into the back of a white Kombi on the R34 towards Frankfort, 15 of these sheep were already dead.

THE KOMBI WAS STOPPED ON THURSDAY EVENING

Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele, members of Heilbron SAPS intercepted the stock thieves during an operation conducted on the evening of Thursday, 16 September 2021.

“The members stopped a white Kombi on R34 road towards Frankfort. This motor vehicle had three occupants, and two managed to flee from the scene while one was arrested.

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“The arrest follows the discovery of a number of sheep that were crammed inside the Kombi. A case of stock theft was opened for further investigation.”

Makhele said on further investigation, it was revealed that out of a number of sheep found, 39 were alive while 15 were dead.

Photo: SAPS

“The value of the sheep was estimated to be about R135 000-00. It was discovered that these sheep belong to a man of Eselvoet Farm in Heilbron.”

He said a 27-year-old male resident of Orange Farm in Gauteng Province would be charged for stock theft.

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The man will appear in Heilbron Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 20 September 2021.

“Blue White Light Operation is one of the crime combating measures we put in place in rural areas to squeeze the space of criminals. This success is one of the fruits of these operations and will continue until our rural areas are safe and conducive for farming,” said Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Baile Motswenyane.