Goat thefts surge as Palapye police suspect syndicate
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday July 2, 2025 06:00
According to Palapye Police Station assistant commander, Assistant Superintendent Goletwa Kethamile, nine goats were stolen last Friday night whilst kraaled at Maape Lands, a case in which police are currently investigating.
The incident follows a similar one from the previous week in the same area where eight goats were also stolen.
“This occurred whilst we were still investigating the earlier case of eight goats stolen from a different location within Maape.
“We suspect that there are thieves specifically targeting goats in the area,' Kethamile said.
'At both crime scenes, we observed similar vehicle tyre tracks, which lead us to believe that the same perpetrators may be behind both incidents.'
The police have urged farmers to remain vigilant and avoid leaving livestock unattended at night.
“We advise farmers to consider hiring herdsmen to stay with their animals rather than kraaling them and returning to the villages, leaving them vulnerable to theft,” he added.
In a separate stock theft incident reported on the same day, police arrested four men in Madiba ward in Palapye after they were found in possession of a full cow carcass.
Kethamile said the suspects failed to account for the origin of the meat when questioned.
“Acting on a tip-off, officers arrived at the scene and found six men with the carcass. Two of them fled the scene with the cow’s skin, and we have since launched an operation to locate and arrest them,' he said.
'We have managed to trace the owner of the cow, who is based at Dikabea cattle post.'
The four arrested suspects are expected to appear before the Palapye Magistrates’ Court sometime this week.
Police investigations into both cases are ongoing. Authorities have reiterated their call for the public to report any suspicious activity and to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to curb livestock theft, which remains a growing concern in rural and semi-rural areas across the country.