Two suspected cattle thieves’ luck ran out last week when they were caught in the act by an undercover agent and policemen.

Their arrest was welcomed by local farmers in a time when stock theft is rampant in the Louis Trichardt area. The two men, Thomas Mbilinganye (30) and Eric Mugeri (38), were arrested last Thursday when they tried to sell a cow that they had just slaughtered to the undercover agent. This arrest, however, came with a big price tag. Owner and local farmer Mr Koos Venter estimated the value of the cow, a heifer whose firstborn calf is only six months old, at around R10 000.

Venter, who lives in town, was woken by a neighbour on Thursday evening, informing him that the police were looking for him at the farm. When he reached his farm, police were already there with the two men in custody.

According to information supplied, Mbilinganye and Mugeri were approached by the agent working on another farm, asking them for meat. Shortly after the cow was killed, the agent was contacted and given directions to Venter’s farm to come and collect the meat. The agent then informed the police’s dog and stocktheft unit, who supplied him with an unmarked police vehicle to go and pick up the meat.

Mbilinganye and Mugeri were arrested shortly after pointing out the cow they had allegedly killed. The animal was caught with a wire snare, after which it was tied to a tree. While still alive, it was hacked to death with pangas.

Although Venter lost a cow in the process, he was extremely pleased with the police’s arrest.

“What people don’t get is that cattle thieves are depriving us local famers of our primary source of income,” Venter said. He is one of many farmers who have to struggle with stock thieves and their destructive methods. On his farm, it has become a daily habit to clean up and gather snares, which not only pose a risk for the cattle but other wildlife as well. Last year, Venter lost several cattle to theft, of which one was slaughtered in his kraal.

“We really hope that these guys, if found guilty, will receive the maximum sentence,” said Venter. 

In the meantime, Mbilinganye and Mugeri appeared in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of stock theft. They will, however, have to remain in custody until 4 January next year for a formal bail application.