Bo-mmaseapei nabbed in Kgomo-Khumo
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday October 10, 2023 06:00
During the operation initiated in September, the police aimed to identify markets associated with stock theft syndicates, revealing that such activities were prevalent in both butcheries and amongst street vendors.
A few weeks ago, three individuals managing butcheries in Thomadithotse and Serorome wards in Palapye were arrested and charged with stock theft when unaccounted-for cow carcasses were discovered in their establishments.
On Wednesday, police detained three street vendors (bo-Mmaseapei)—Joyce Setlhako, 44, of Xhosa ward, Matshenyego Jacob, 57, of Konyana ward, and Elizabeth Samsam, 60, of Bokaa ward—all from Mahalapye.
They were caught with suspected stolen meat that they couldn't explain its origins. The initial arrests involved Pelotshweu Solomon, 40, of Botalaote ward, Baagi Nkona, 32, of Madiba ward, and Mogomotsi Masole, 39, of Ramodelo ward, who were suspected of stealing and slaughtering a cow in Flower town, Phase 2, Mahalapye and delivering its carcass to the aforementioned street vendors. The six suspects appeared before the Mahalapye Magistrate’s Court, facing a single count of stealing stock. BPS' public relations officer, Assistant Commissioner Dipheko Motube expressed dismay at the low prices at which the stolen meat was sold.
"They had sold each thigh at P250 and the rest of the meat at P800 to street vendors. How can a whole cow be sold at P1,300? This is cruelty, stealing someone’s cow to sell it that cheap. Stock theft will not end soon because such criminals have a ready market being butcheries and street vendors," he told The Monitor. Motube highlighted the significant impact of stock theft on local farmers, emphasising that they largely depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. He raised the problem of herdsmen and other criminals removing kingpins of stock theft from cases involving government officials.
“It is of great concern that government officials, holding senior positions that should be helping us to curb stock theft are the ones supporting stock theft syndicate businesses by buying their stolen animals,” he said. He stated that since the inception of the operation, 63 suspects have been arrested in connection with stock theft offences in Palapye and Mahalapye districts, involving 57 stolen livestock. He added that, so far, seven individuals have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for stock theft.
Additionally, on Wednesday, three men—Letlhabile Mokokwana, 20, Utlwanang Gabautlwe, 23, and Lesego Monthusi, 24, all from Mpotse ward—were sentenced to five years imprisonment for stealing stock by Mogapinyana Customary Court. They were found on September 7, 2023, in possession of biltong from a suspected stolen donkey on the outskirts of Mogapinyana.