About 84 sheep and 22 lambs, to the value of R 116 000-00, were recovered by the Elliot Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit (STU) in Ugie.
Major General Lindelwa Vellem, Joe Gqabi District Commissioner, welcomed the recoveries, because stock theft was identified as a priority crime in the area.
He explained the process leading to the recovery, “members from Elliot STU who work across district borders received information about sheep that was being stolen at Cicirha locality in Ugie. The members then followed up on all possible leads and the preliminary investigation took the members to Majaba locality in Tsolo. They then spotted three suspects driving the sheep in an open field.
As soon as the suspects saw the SAPS members, they opened fire, and the members returned fire, the suspects then fled on foot.”
The sheep had clear ear marks and will be handed back to the lawful owner once identified.