Two suspected avocado thieves’ luck ran out when they were allegedly caught red-handed by farmers and community members from the Witvlag-area.

A disheartened group of community members gathered outside the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court in Makhado last Friday to show their dismay with the non-stop theft of the fresh produce that constitutes their livelihood.

Tshikonye Mudau (54) and Avhapfani Philimon Simali (34) were arrested in June when they allegedly tried to steal a bakkie load of avocados to the value of R20 000. According to information provided, the men were caught red-handed, picking and loading the avos onto their vehicle.

It was when they allegedly tried to flee the scene that they drove into a ditch with their vehicle and were arrested.

The two men’s arrest was welcomed, especially by the emerging community farmers, who are mostly pensioners. According to them, they have not been able to harvest a crop for the past five years.

“We want thieves to receive the maximum sentence. Our children do not want to farm because they see no future in it for them. We are tired of these thieves and want it to become a priority crime,” was the message from these farmers outside the court on Friday.

In the meantime, Mudau and Simali, who were charged with theft, have applied for a legal aid attorney. They will appear in the Louis Trichardt Magistrate’s Court again on Friday, 3 August, for their application to be finalized. Mudau has also laid a counter-charge against one of the farmers who assisted in his arrest. Mudau claims that the farmer had assaulted him.