A livestock farmer from Makhitha is devastated after discovering the remains of two of his cattle, which were stolen and slaughtered by thieves last week.

According to Mr Thomas Tshikota, he had left his cows grazing in the bush near Madodonga in the Sinthumule area. When he returned a short while later, he noticed some were missing. After searching the area, he found the remains of one of the cows. He suspected that the thieves had slaughtered the animals and had sold the meat to local butchers.

One of the local farmers, Mr Johanes Ramovha, said that upon learning of the theft, they had rushed to the scene. They spotted a suspect in the bushes, but he fled into the darkness, abandoning his car. “We called the police, who arrived and found the car with the meat inside,” he said.

Mr Tshikota expressed his frustration, saying that his ambitions to become a top livestock farmer had been severely hindered by thieves intent on stealing and mutilating his animals. He noted that stock theft was becoming an increasing problem in the Sinthumule and Kutama areas. “We, as farmers, need to upgrade our security. People are no longer stealing just to eat. Stock theft has now become a business,” he said.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Malesela Ledwaba confirmed that the police had been called to the scene and found the remains of the slaughtered cattle. The farmers were asked to identify their cattle.

Ledwaba also reported that a 32-year-old suspect, Matumi Mavhungu, was later arrested and appeared in the Tshilwavhusiku Magistrate’s Court on 12 August. He was released on bail, and the case has been postponed to 30 August. He acknowledged that there has been a rise in complaints about stock theft in Limpopo.