- Police recovered 59 sheep, 12 goats and 5 cattle across different localities in the OR Tambo District.
- A 23-year-old man was arrested in Mqanduli while herding sheep believed to have been stolen.
- Some livestock have been identified by their owners, while unclaimed animals were taken to municipal stockpounds.
Police in the OR Tambo District in Mthatha recovered livestock and arrested a suspect during a series of operations carried out between 8 and 9 April 2026 across several policing precincts.
A 23-year-old man was arrested in the Mncwasa locality, under the Kwaaiman policing precinct, on Thursday, 9 April 2026, at around 3pm.
In Mqanduli, Kwaaiman police acted on a tip-off and found the suspect herding 11 sheep believed to have been stolen. The sheep had been taken from a kraal the night before and were positively identified by their owner. Two alleged accomplices fled the scene and were not apprehended.
Recovery operations in Bityi localities
In the Phingilili and Bhokisini localities, under the Bityi policing precinct, Station Commander Lieutenant Mbunyuza and Detective Commander Captain Mlilo led an operation after receiving information about stolen livestock being kept in abandoned homesteads. The operation got underway on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, at 9pm and ran through to Thursday, 9 April 2026, at around 2am.
During the operation, police recovered 48 sheep and 12 goats, some of which were found inside houses. A number of the animals have already been identified by stock theft victims, while unclaimed livestock were taken to the Tsolo Municipality stockpound.
Cattle recovered in Qumbu
In the Nxotwe locality in Qumbu, the OR Tambo District Stock Theft Prevention Task Team recovered five cattle on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, at around 6:30am. The animals were not known to the local community and were taken to the Qumbu Municipality stockpound.
Police have urged stock theft victims to visit their nearest municipal stockpound to identify and collect their livestock.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Mqanduli Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 10 April 2026, on a charge of unlawful possession of suspected stolen livestock.
OR Tambo District Commissioner Major General Norman Modishana described stock theft as “one of the serious crimes which brings a lot of misery” to affected families, and praised the officers involved in the recoveries.
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