The AfriForum neighbourhood watch in Bloemhof on 13 October 2020 traced a stolen vehicle after they received information of presumably stolen cattle on the Weltevrede smallholdings. The ten farmers that suffered damage as a result of the theft followed up leads in cooperation with the neighbourhood watch.
The neighbourhood watch members noticed a Ford Ranger Wildtrack with Gauteng number plates on the smallholding which looked suspicious. The bakkie’s number plates were verified and it was concluded that the vehicle was stolen in Pretoria in April.
The cattle were moved already and found on a nearby smallholding. The police’s cattle theft unit was summoned and the matter is being investigated.
The local police thanked AfriForum for their work and information with regards to the case. “This is proof that we can combat crime if we work together,” says Warrant Officer Pieta Lamprecht.
“The residents of North West are suffering severely as a result of the theft. Farmers’ cattle are stolen regularly and the losses are big. AfriForum’s neighbourhood watch has proven that we are here to cooperate with the SAPS and as such become part of the solution,” says Gerhard Nieuwoudt, AfriForum’s District Coordinator for Stellaland.
Become involved with your AfriForum branch and neighbourhood watch: SMS your name to 45351 (R1).