Elmon Tshikhudo
For years the community of Vuwani outside Makhado in Limpopo suspected that a local butcher was behind stock theft in the area.
Cow carcasses, intestines and heads would usually be found dumped in the bush after the thieves made away with the meat.
But the police couldn’t do much as there was no evidence against the butchery owner.
The butcher and four accomplices were caught red-handed by community members who said they found them slaughtering a herd of 11 cattle at Mdavula outside Malamulele.
Three of the alleged thieves managed to run away but the butchery owner and another suspect could not escape.
They were caught with their loot and beaten up and the community forced the businessman to burn his own car.
Livestock farmers in the area had been complaining about stock theft but their concerns fell on deaf ears.
A family at Davhana lost 13 cattle in one go and the granny who solely depended on them was left with no way to fend for herself and her family.
It is alleged hundreds of cattle have been stolen in the area over the years.
Even though they condemned the attack on the suspects, the incident came as good news to the livestock farmers.
“God heard our prayers. We have been trying to fight this war ourselves but it was a losing battle. We have been kept awake patrolling the bush in order to catch the thieves,” said Hulisani Sithagu, a local farmers’ leader.
“You catch them the following day on the streets and they continue with their dirty work. This will serve as a deterrent.”
Farmer in the area Frank Mabasa said the cattle were stolen at the Manavhela village and slaughtered in the Mdabula village.
“This is good news for us. We have suffered enough with some of our members losing the whole herd. This will send a strong warning to thieves,” he said.
