Northern Cape farmer hit hard by stock theft

Kimberley – Northern Cape farmer Boytjie Hugo has lost more than 180 sheep to stock theft since last year August.

"This is a yearly thing and has a huge impact on my budget. These people steal our sheep and sell them in town for R300 each," Hugo told News24 on Thursday. 

He said they had been working hard with police in the area to prevent stock theft. 

Sheep worth more than R40 000 were stolen from his farm Palmietfontein, near Colesberg, on Monday. Some were found slaughtered.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Sergio Kock said they found four men them carrying bags of fresh meat while doing routine patrols.

"It was discovered that 21 sheep, worth R42 000 were stolen from the farm. Police also found nine sheep skins, two dead sheep and three live sheep with their feet tied, in the veld on the farm," he said. 

Hugo said he had fallen victim to livestock theft on numerous occasions.

"Last year between August and October more than 160 of my sheep were stolen and we could not catch these people," he said. He believed a syndicate was operating in the area.  

The suspects were expected to appear in the Colesburg Magistrate's Court soon.