A total of seven suspects are scheduled to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 April 2026, facing charges of livestock theft.
The arrests occurred on Friday, 17 April 2026, following an operation by the Bloemspruit Crime Prevention Unit. Police acted on a community tip-off regarding stolen sheep being kept at a residential property in Phomolong.
At approximately 20:10, officers arrived at the identified address and observed a White Nissan NP200 fitted with a canopy. The vehicle was occupied by two male suspects. Upon inspection, police discovered live sheep in the rear of the vehicle. The two occupants were immediately placed under arrest.
Police proceeded to search a shack dwelling on the property. Inside the structure, officers located additional sheep. Two further suspects were found hiding behind a large deep freezer and were subsequently arrested.
While officers were on the scene, a Mitsubishi Colt van stopped outside the location. Police arrested two more suspects found inside the vehicle in possession of stolen livestock.
A seventh suspect, identified as the owner of the dwelling, was discovered hiding inside the deep freezer and was taken into custody.
A total of 30 live sheep were recovered during the operation. The livestock was handed back to the lawful owner, who arrived at the scene accompanied by members of the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit. Experts from the Local Criminal Records Centre were dispatched to process the scene.
The seven suspects, aged between 30 and 46, remain in custody pending their court appearance today.