NOORDWESTER – LICHTENBURG - An alleged notorious livestock thief, Moses Matshego (39), will remain in custody following a brief appearance in the Ditsobotla Magistrates’ Court in Itsoseng on Friday, 6 September. He is expected to reappear before the same court on Thursday, 12 September.
Matshego was arrested on Wednesday morning, 4 September, near Itsoseng after Mahikeng Stock theft and Endangered Species (STES) unit members followed up on a tip-off about suspected stolen cattle loaded in a truck.
The members managed to arrest the suspect who was found in possession of 15 cattle worth R150 000. According to information, the accused had already branded the cattle with his own mark.
Preliminary investigation into the matter showed that the cattle were allegedly stolen from different places in and around Mahikeng and Itsoseng. It was further established that the accused was previously charged on several stock theft cases in the province, although some were withdrawn due to investigation related queries. The possibility of linking the accused with more cases cannot be ruled out.
The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena, lauded members of STES for their quick response that resulted in the seizure of cattle and apprehension of the accused for stock theft, which is one of the province’s most problematic crimes.
