Fight against stock theft bearing fruit with arrests in Ngcobo area

About 200 sheep and goats have been stolen in recent incidents in two neighbouring Ngcobo villages, prompting residents to mobilise against what they believe are organised stock theft syndicates. Communities in Mqontsi and Ngquthurha, near premier Oscar Mabuyane’s Deberha village, have responded byinstalling CCTV cameras, forming patrol groups and co-ordinating closely with the police in an effort to curb the crime. A man was arrested and appeared in the Ngcobo magistrate’s court on Monday after more than 100 sheep and goats were recovered at a homestead in KwaMbhlanga at the weekend.

A second suspect was later apprehended by community members and handed over to police. Ngquthurha stock owner and community leader Luthando Ntloko said residents had deliberately avoided vigilantism despite mounting frustration. “A second man was apprehended by stock owners and the community and was handed over to the police to investigate further.

“What I like is that none of the two men were beaten or subjected to any form of vigilantism,” he said. Ntloko said one of the suspects had implicated himself in multiplestock-theft casesand pointed to the existence of at least two syndicates operating in Ngcobo and the Chris Hani district. The latest incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday when thieves attempted to steal livestock from Ngquthurha.

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CCTV footage captured suspicious activity at two neighbouring homesteads, alerting residents. I have CCTV cameras in my yard,” Ntloko said.

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